Typically, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems largely depleted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Character Development
Among this movie's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off using a memorable opening sequence in which a peaceful family party is violently disrupted when a van crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the tragedy occurred.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough opportunity to get to know its main personalities before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has understandably caused a rift among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. The family head is Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot this was a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film to showing us who each relative is, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities allowed the audience to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently presents individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a real surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before taking an abrupt shift into shocking territory. These early moments don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to settle into the setting before everything gets upended.
Unique Infection Origin
The film also offers a quite intriguing reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the movie devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the effect this affliction produces on humans proves absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and are practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
Even better compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of dubious choices (as in any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like prey in headlights as death approaches.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming into zombies, this proved a welcome authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope often seen in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals express gratitude for each other feel much more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful scares, and since the film allows every personality enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and enjoyable
