For the most part, I've had my fill of undead films. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems mostly depleted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Development
One of the film's greatest assets is its excellent rhythm. It begins with a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family before the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough time to get to know its main characters prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has predictably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. This household patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two things: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely tense.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues and their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot this was a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of the film to showing viewers the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled me to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently introduces characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine shock when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to taking an abrupt shift into "holy shit" territory. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting before it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
The film additionally presents a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of background, the impact this condition produces on people is absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and are almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some instances of questionable decision-making (as in any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find rather than freezing like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, which was a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters express gratitude for each other feel far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're successful frights, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
