Typically, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems largely exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Character Growth
One of the film's strongest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It begins with a memorable initial scene in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to see this household before the disaster occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient time to get to know the primary personalities before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably caused a rift between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but socially awkward, and who loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch is her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two aspects: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime to showing us the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed the audience to connect to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently introduces characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a genuine surprise when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama with slightly dark humor prior to taking an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" ground. These early moments aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to settle into the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Origin
This movie additionally presents a quite interesting reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the movie devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this condition has on humans is absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some instances of questionable choices (as in typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find rather than freezing like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters express appreciation for each other feel far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are effective frights, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining
