For the most part, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Superb Rhythm and Personal Development
One of this movie's strongest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It begins with a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted when a vehicle plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is then followed by a look back, allowing us to see the family before the disaster occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know its main personalities before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. This household head is Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so invested with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I almost forgot this was a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities enabled the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a real surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama with slightly dark humor before making a sudden turn into "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to it gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this condition has on people is absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and they're almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of questionable choices (as in any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, this proved a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for 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 over the phone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters express gratitude for each other seem far more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message about family or community, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are successful frights, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
