For the most part, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels largely depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Character Development
One of the film's strongest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It kicks off with a striking initial scene where a calm family gathering is violently disrupted by a van plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to see this household before the disaster struck.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough time to get to know its main characters prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably led to a rift among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. This household patriarch is her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot I was watching a horror film—which might sound like a negative, but in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of the film to showing viewers who each family member represents, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities enabled me to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often introduces individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a real shock once events eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor before making an abrupt shift into "holy shit" ground. These early moments don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient time to settle into the setting prior to it gets upended.
Original Infection Source
This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this condition has on humans proves absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and they're practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some examples of dubious choices (like any typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon 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 everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters express appreciation toward one another seem far more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. But they're effective scares, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
