Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category seems largely exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Growth
One of the film's strongest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins with a memorable initial scene in which a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted by a van plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the disaster occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably caused a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family head is Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so invested with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot this was a horror film—which might seem like a negative, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a real surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to taking an abrupt shift toward shocking ground. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to settle into its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the movie devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the effect this affliction produces on people proves utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and they're almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some instances of questionable decision-making (as in any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object is available rather than freezing like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another feel much more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're effective scares, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and enjoyable
