Generally speaking, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category seems largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. However, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Development
One of this movie's strongest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable opening sequence where a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient time to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably caused a falling out between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and he loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. This household patriarch is her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he seems focused on just two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film to showing viewers the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled me to connect to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently presents characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, so it's a genuine surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy before making an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to settle into its world before it gets upended.
Unique Infection Origin
The film also offers a quite intriguing reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the film devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this affliction has on people is utterly disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and they're practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some examples of dubious decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument is available rather than freezing like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "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. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters do show gratitude toward one another seem much more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful frights, and since the film allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
