Typically, I've grown tired of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems largely depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth
One of this movie's greatest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene in which a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking individual emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the tragedy struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives viewers sufficient time to get to know the primary personalities prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably led to a falling out between the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and he loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. The family head consists of her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime to showing us who each family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on clashing personalities allowed the audience to relate to the personalities enough to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents individuals just 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 go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and various family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to taking a sudden shift toward "holy shit" ground. These early moments aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to settle into the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Origin
The film also offers a quite interesting explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the movie devoted additional time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this affliction has on people proves absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and are practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of dubious choices (as in any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like prey caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a welcome authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—seem authentic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another seem much more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight about family or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are successful frights, and because the movie gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining
