For the most part, I've grown tired of undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category seems mostly depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Character Growth
Among this movie's strongest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It begins with a striking initial scene in which a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted by a van crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household before the disaster struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough time to become acquainted with its main characters prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has understandably led to a falling out between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. The family patriarch is her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime to showing us the identity of every family member is, and how they add to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled me to connect with the characters enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat in a genre which frequently presents individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to taking an abrupt turn into shocking territory. These early moments don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to immerse in the setting before everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Origin
This movie also offers a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease originates in a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion which seems to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the effect this condition has on humans proves absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite convincing, and are almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of questionable choices (like any typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a close location. 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 brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another seem much more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight about family or society, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are effective frights, and because the movie allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
