Generally speaking, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels largely depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. However, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Character Growth
Among this movie's strongest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a striking initial scene in which a calm family party is violently interrupted when a vehicle crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household before the disaster struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough opportunity to get to know the primary personalities before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has predictably led to a falling out among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch is her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so invested in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film depicting viewers the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities enabled the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon feat for this style that often introduces characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine shock when things eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to making a sudden shift into shocking territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to immerse in its world before everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Origin
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to producing a lethal potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this affliction produces on people is absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and are practically guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of dubious choices (like any any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to kick an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object is available instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters express appreciation for each other seem much more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are successful frights, and since the film allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and entertaining
