For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for months. However, Netflix's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated turning out quite entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Character Development
One of the film's strongest assets is its superb rhythm. It begins with a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a van plows into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household prior to the disaster occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. The family patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on only two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so invested with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime depicting us who each relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled the audience to relate with the characters enough to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a real shock when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to making an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, I wish the movie had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of background, the effect this affliction produces on people is utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
Even better than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of questionable decision-making (as in any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters express appreciation for each other seem much more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight about family or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are effective scares, and since the movie gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and entertaining
