For the most part, I'm over zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels mostly exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated turning out quite entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Character Growth
One of this movie's strongest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins using a striking initial scene in which a calm family gathering is violently disrupted when a vehicle crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household prior to the tragedy occurred.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary characters before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. This has understandably led to a rift between the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. The family patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime depicting us who each family member is, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed me to connect to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, so it's a genuine shock once events eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a K-Drama with slightly dark humor prior to making a sudden shift toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient time to settle into the setting prior to it gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
This movie also offers a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the film had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this affliction has on humans is absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and are practically guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of questionable choices (like any typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find rather than freezing like prey in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, this proved a welcome authentic subversion 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 apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances where these individuals express gratitude for each other feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight about family or society, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're effective frights, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
