Typically, I've had my fill of undead films. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems largely depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Development
Among this movie's greatest assets is its superb rhythm. It begins with a striking initial scene where a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with its main personalities before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably caused a rift among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household head is her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every family member is, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently introduces individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, so it's a real surprise once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama with slightly dark humor before taking a sudden turn into shocking territory. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
The film additionally presents a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the impact this affliction has on people is utterly disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and are practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
More impressive compared to the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of questionable choices (as in any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to kick an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters do show appreciation for each other seem much more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. Yet these are successful scares, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable
