Typically, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems largely exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Character Growth
One of the film's strongest assets is its superb rhythm. It begins with a striking opening sequence where a calm family gathering is violently disrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to see the family prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough opportunity to get to know its main personalities prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably caused a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and who enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so invested in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime to showing us who each family member is, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits enabled me to relate with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style which frequently presents characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a genuine shock once events finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to taking an abrupt turn toward shocking ground. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient time to settle into its world before it gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
The film also offers a fairly interesting explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the movie had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this condition produces on humans proves utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and are practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of dubious decision-making (as in any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals begin transforming into zombies, this proved a welcome authentic 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 apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals express appreciation for each other feel far more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message about family or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. Yet these are successful frights, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
