For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems largely depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth
One of this movie's strongest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has predictably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. This household patriarch is her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on just two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime to showing us who each relative represents, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often introduces characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, so it's a real surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to making a sudden turn toward "holy shit" territory. These early scenes aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting before it gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Origin
This movie also offers a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this condition produces on humans is utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and are practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some examples of questionable decision-making (as in any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find rather than standing still like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters express appreciation for each other feel much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are successful scares, and because the film allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and enjoyable
