Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels mostly exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Character Growth
Among this movie's greatest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins with a striking initial scene where a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle plows into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family before the disaster occurred.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient time to get to know its main characters prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family head consists of her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked this was a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every family member is, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits allowed the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine shock when things finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy before making an abrupt turn into "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient time to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
This movie also offers a quite interesting reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the effect this condition produces on people proves absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and are almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
Even better compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of questionable decision-making (as in any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available rather than freezing like prey in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, this proved a welcome authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances where these individuals express gratitude for each other feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're effective frights, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and enjoyable
