Typically, I've had my fill of undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems largely depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Development
One of this movie's greatest strengths is its superb rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a van crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to see the family before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know its main characters prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. The family patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film depicting us the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to relate with the characters enough to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a real surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama with slightly dark humor prior to making an abrupt turn into shocking territory. These early moments don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient time to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
This movie additionally presents a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than a unintended lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion which seems to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this affliction produces on humans proves absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and are practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some examples of questionable decision-making (like any any good undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find instead of standing still like prey in headlights as death nears.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, which was a pleasantly authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when 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 is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters express appreciation for each other seem far more genuine.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message about family or community, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're effective frights, and since the film gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
