Generally speaking, I've grown tired of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category feels mostly depleted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out quite enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Growth
Among this movie's greatest assets is its excellent pacing. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to observe this household prior to the disaster struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has understandably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. The family patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two things: his business and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime depicting us who each family member is, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed me to relate with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style that often presents characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to taking a sudden turn toward shocking ground. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough time to immerse in the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Origin
This movie also offers a fairly interesting explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the movie had spent additional time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly potion which seems to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this affliction produces on humans is utterly disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and are almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some instances of questionable choices (like any any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available instead of standing still like prey in headlights while danger approaches.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters do show appreciation for each other seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. Yet these are effective frights, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and entertaining
