For the most part, I've grown tired of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems mostly depleted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, Netflix's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Personal Growth
One of this movie's strongest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It begins with a striking initial scene in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a van plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to see the family prior to the tragedy struck.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know its main characters before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably caused a falling out between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I almost forgot this was a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of the film to showing us the identity of every family member represents, and how they add to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits enabled the audience to connect 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 characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a real surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy before making an abrupt shift into shocking ground. These early moments don't focus as much on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to settle into its world prior to it gets upended.
Original Zombification Origin
The film also offers a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the effect this condition produces on humans proves utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and are almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of dubious decision-making (like any typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger approaches.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals express appreciation toward one another seem much more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're successful scares, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
