For the most part, I've had my fill of undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Character Development
Among this movie's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off using a striking initial scene in which a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted by a van crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family before the disaster occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives viewers sufficient time to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family head is her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I almost forgot this was a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime depicting viewers who each relative is, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits enabled me to connect with the characters enough to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently presents characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise once events eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and various household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy prior to making an abrupt shift into shocking territory. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to it gets upended.
Original Infection Source
This movie also offers a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the effect this affliction produces on humans is utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite convincing, and are practically guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some examples of dubious decision-making (like any typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals express gratitude toward one another feel far more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. But they're effective frights, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining
