For the most part, I've grown tired of undead films. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Growth
One of the film's strongest strengths is its superb rhythm. It begins using a memorable initial scene in which a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters prior to the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family head consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I almost forgot I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime to showing us who each family member represents, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed me to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real shock once events eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy before making a sudden shift toward "holy shit" territory. These early moments aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient time to settle into the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
The film additionally presents a quite intriguing reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the movie had spent additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the impact this affliction produces on humans proves absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and are practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of questionable choices (like any typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like prey in headlights while danger approaches.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, this proved a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances where these individuals express appreciation toward one another feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight about family or community, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're successful frights, and because the film gives each character enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and entertaining
