For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels largely depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth
Among this movie's greatest strengths is its superb pacing. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted when a van crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family prior to the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has predictably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch is her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who appears focused on just two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so invested in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime depicting viewers who each family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities enabled the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon feat in a genre that often introduces individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise once events finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy before taking an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" territory. These early moments don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to settle into its world prior to it gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
The film additionally presents a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent additional time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a lethal potion which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this condition produces on people proves absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some instances of dubious decision-making (like any typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument is available rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger approaches.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters do show gratitude toward one another feel much more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message about family or community, as well. Rather, it's primarily delivering frights. But they're successful frights, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and entertaining
