Typically, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems largely exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Character Development
One of this movie's greatest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family party is violently disrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough time to get to know the primary characters prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has predictably caused a falling out among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. This household patriarch is her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime to showing us who each relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style which frequently presents characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine shock once events eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to taking a sudden turn toward shocking ground. These introductory moments don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Origin
The film also offers a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the movie had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly potion which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect this affliction has on people is utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
Even better compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of dubious choices (as in typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, stab 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 Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals express gratitude for each other seem much more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. Yet these are successful frights, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
