Generally speaking, I'm over undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems mostly depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Growth
Among this movie's strongest assets is its excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient time to get to know its main personalities prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. This household head is her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on only two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked this was a horror film—which might seem like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime depicting us who each family member is, and how they add to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits allowed the audience to relate with the characters enough to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a real surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before making a sudden turn into shocking territory. These introductory moments don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to settle into its world prior to everything gets upended.
Original Infection Source
The film also offers a quite interesting explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the movie devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly potion which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of background, the effect this affliction produces on people is absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of dubious choices (like any any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available rather than standing still like prey in headlights while danger approaches.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—seem authentic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters do show gratitude for each other seem much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight about family or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're successful frights, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining
