Typically, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category seems largely depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth
One of this movie's strongest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It begins using a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a van plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see this household before the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient time to get to know the primary personalities prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably caused a rift among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. The family patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so invested in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked this was a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime to showing us who each family member is, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities enabled me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently presents individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, so it's a real shock once events eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy prior to making an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" ground. These early moments aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough time to immerse in its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
This movie also offers a quite intriguing reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this condition produces on people proves utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and they're practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of dubious decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find instead of standing still like prey in headlights as death nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, which was a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude for each other feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message about family or community, as well. Rather, it's primarily serving up frights. But they're effective scares, and because the film gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and enjoyable
