Generally speaking, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category seems largely depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Character Growth
Among this movie's strongest assets is its superb rhythm. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted when a van crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see this household prior to the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough time to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. This has understandably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured but socially awkward, and who loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch is her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on only two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so invested in the household's issues and their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might sound like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film to showing us who each family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits allowed me to connect to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style that often introduces characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise once events eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy before making an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" ground. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient time to immerse in the setting before it gets upended.
Original Infection Origin
The film also offers a quite intriguing reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the film had spent additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the impact this affliction has on humans is absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of questionable choices (like any any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find instead of freezing like prey in headlights as death nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—seem authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals express appreciation toward one another feel far more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. Yet these are successful frights, and because the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
