For the most part, I'm over zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems largely depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Growth
Among the film's strongest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It begins using a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family gathering is violently interrupted by a van crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household before the tragedy struck.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough time to get to know the primary personalities prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has understandably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured but socially awkward, and he enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family head is her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on just two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime depicting us the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits enabled the audience to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat in a genre that often presents individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, so it's a genuine shock once events finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor before taking an abrupt shift toward shocking territory. These early moments don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough time to settle into its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
The film also offers a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While we do learn something regarding how it started, I wish the film devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this condition has on humans is utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some instances of dubious choices (like any typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available instead of standing still like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude for each other feel much more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. Yet these are successful frights, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
