Generally speaking, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved quite entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Character Development
Among the film's strongest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It kicks off with a striking initial scene where a calm family gathering is violently interrupted when a van plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the tragedy occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient time to become acquainted with its main characters before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has predictably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. This household head is Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two things: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so invested in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime to showing us the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a genuine shock once events eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy before taking a sudden turn toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough time to immerse in its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
The film also offers a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the movie devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion that appears 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 undead prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some instances of dubious decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object is available rather than freezing like prey caught in lights while danger approaches.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "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. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters do show gratitude toward one another feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. Yet these are successful scares, and since the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and enjoyable
