Generally speaking, I've grown tired of undead films. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Character Growth
One of the film's strongest assets lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off using a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family party is violently disrupted by a vehicle plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to see the family prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough opportunity to get to know the primary characters prior to the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably caused a rift between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but socially awkward, and who enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of the film depicting us who each relative represents, and how they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often presents characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, so it's a genuine surprise when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy prior to making a sudden turn toward "holy shit" ground. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Source
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a new batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited background, the impact this affliction has on humans is utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and are almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
Even better compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of questionable decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation for each other feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message about family or society, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're successful scares, and because the movie gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining
