For the most part, I'm over undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels mostly depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
One of this movie's greatest strengths is its superb rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough time to become acquainted with its main characters prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has predictably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he enjoys gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. This household head consists of her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who appears focused on just two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film to showing viewers the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat in a genre that often introduces characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. 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 deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy before making a sudden turn toward "holy shit" ground. These early moments don't focus as much on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough time to settle into its world before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this affliction produces on people proves absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some examples of dubious choices (as in any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like prey in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people 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 often seen in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters express appreciation toward one another seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's primarily delivering frights. Yet these are effective frights, and since the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is an engaging and entertaining
