Typically, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels largely depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Character Development
Among this movie's greatest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins with a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family party is violently interrupted when a vehicle crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe this household before the disaster occurred.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with its main personalities before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. This has predictably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. This household head consists of Nes' father, the owner of a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime to showing us who each relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled the audience to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat for this style which frequently presents characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise once events finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy prior to taking an abrupt turn into shocking ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Origin
The film also offers a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the effect this condition produces on people is utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of dubious choices (like any any good undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find rather than standing still like prey in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, which was a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope often seen in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters do show appreciation toward one another seem far more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're successful scares, and because the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
