Typically, I've had my fill of undead films. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels largely exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Development
One of the film's greatest strengths is its superb pacing. It begins using a memorable initial scene in which a calm family party is violently disrupted when a van plows into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the tragedy occurred.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know its main personalities prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably caused a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on just two things: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly forgot I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime depicting us who each family member is, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities enabled the audience to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently introduces individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, so it's a real surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to taking a sudden turn toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to settle into its world before it gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Origin
This movie also offers a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this affliction has on people is absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and are almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
More impressive than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of dubious choices (like any any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like a deer in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals express appreciation toward one another seem far more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight about family or society, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're effective scares, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves a captivating and enjoyable
