For the most part, I'm over zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category seems mostly depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out quite entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Character Development
Among the film's greatest assets is its excellent rhythm. It begins using a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This intense scene is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the disaster struck.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough time to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and he loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. This household head is Nes' father, the owner of a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film depicting viewers who each family member represents, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed me to connect to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style that often presents characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties 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 various household exchanges actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy before making a sudden shift into "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough time to settle into its world prior to everything gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
The film additionally presents a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the impact this condition produces on humans is absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and they're almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of questionable decision-making (as in any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object is available instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're effective scares, 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
