Typically, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems largely exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. However, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Development
One of this movie's greatest assets lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence where a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a van plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to see the family before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former close friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has understandably caused a rift between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and who loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family head consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and who seems focused on only two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so invested with this household's issues and their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every family member represents, and how they add to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities enabled the audience to connect to the personalities enough to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often presents characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to making a sudden shift into "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient time to immerse in the setting before it gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Origin
This movie additionally presents a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly potion which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this affliction has on humans is utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are a few examples of questionable choices (like any typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like prey in headlights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters express gratitude for each other feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight about family or community, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are effective frights, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable
