Generally speaking, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems mostly depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Rhythm and Character Development
One of the film's greatest assets is its excellent pacing. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted when a van plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe this household before the disaster struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient time to get to know its main personalities prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. This has understandably caused a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. This household head consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of the film depicting us the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities enabled the audience to connect with the characters enough to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a real surprise when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a K-Drama with slightly dark humor before making an abrupt shift toward shocking ground. These introductory moments don't focus as much on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives enough opportunity to settle into the setting before it gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this condition has on people is utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some examples of dubious decision-making (as in any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, which was a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters do show gratitude toward one another seem far more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're effective frights, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable
