Generally speaking, I'm over undead films. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems mostly depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth
One of this movie's strongest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a memorable initial scene in which a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see this household before the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient time to get to know its main personalities before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. This has understandably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and he loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on only two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked this was a horror film—something that could sound like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime depicting us who each family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits allowed the audience to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often introduces individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a real surprise once events eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor before making a sudden turn into "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to immerse in its world before it gets upended.
Original Infection Source
The film also offers a quite interesting explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted additional time on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this affliction produces on humans is absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and they're almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of questionable choices (like any typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object is available instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, this proved a welcome authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude for each other seem much more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're successful scares, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining
