Generally speaking, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.
Superb Rhythm and Personal Growth
One of the film's strongest assets is its superb rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence where a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking individual emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to observe the family before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient time to become acquainted with the primary characters before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and who loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. The family head is Nes' father, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and who seems focused on only two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits enabled the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare feat in a genre that often presents characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to devour, so it's a genuine shock when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy prior to making an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" territory. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough time to settle into the setting before it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
The film additionally presents a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a new batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding how it started, I wish the movie had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this condition produces on people proves utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of dubious choices (as in typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find instead of standing still like prey caught in lights while danger approaches.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, which was a welcome realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation for each other feel far more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. Yet these are effective frights, and because the movie allows every personality enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and enjoyable
