Typically, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels largely exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Character Growth
Among this movie's strongest assets lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a van crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges and begins attacking the attendees. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household prior to the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary characters prior to the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. This household head consists of her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues and their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot this was a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of the film to showing us the identity of every family member is, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits allowed the audience to connect with the characters enough to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently presents individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine shock once events eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama with slightly dark humor before making a sudden shift into shocking ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough time to immerse in its world prior to it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
The film also offers a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the movie had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the impact this condition produces on humans proves utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of dubious choices (like any typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object they find rather than freezing like prey caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—seem authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters do show appreciation toward one another feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're effective scares, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and enjoyable
