For the most part, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category feels mostly exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Character Growth
One of the film's greatest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted by a vehicle plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household prior to the tragedy struck.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough time to get to know its main personalities prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. This has predictably led to a falling out between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and who loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two aspects: his business and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so invested with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film depicting us who each relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a real surprise once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to taking a sudden turn toward shocking territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to settle into the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Origin
The film also offers a fairly interesting reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this condition produces on humans is absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and are almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of dubious choices (as in typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object is available rather than freezing like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals begin transforming to the undead, this proved a welcome authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another seem much more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message regarding relatives or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're effective scares, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable
