Generally speaking, I've grown tired of undead films. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems mostly depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
Among this movie's strongest assets lies in the superb pacing. It begins using a memorable initial scene where a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is then followed by a look back, allowing us to see this household prior to the tragedy struck.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives viewers sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably caused a rift among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and he loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed me to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare feat in a genre which frequently presents individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a real surprise when things finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to making an abrupt shift toward shocking ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to settle into its world before everything gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the movie had spent additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the effect this condition produces on people proves absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of questionable decision-making (as in typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like prey caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming 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 everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters do show gratitude for each other seem much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight about family or society, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're successful frights, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
