For the most part, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems largely depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. However, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Development
Among this movie's greatest strengths is its excellent rhythm. It begins using a memorable opening sequence where a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a van plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see the family prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary characters before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. This has predictably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. The family patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on just two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so invested with this household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film depicting viewers who each family member represents, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently presents individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a real surprise when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy prior to making a sudden shift toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough time to settle into its world prior to it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the film devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited context, the impact this affliction has on people proves absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and are almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some instances of questionable choices (as in any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object they find rather than freezing like prey in headlights while danger nears.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another feel much more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight about family or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are effective frights, and because the film allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and entertaining
