For the most part, I'm over undead films. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels largely exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. However, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth
Among the film's greatest assets is its excellent pacing. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence in which a calm family gathering is violently interrupted when a vehicle crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to see this household prior to the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary personalities prior to the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch is her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on only two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime to showing us the identity of every family member is, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities enabled the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare feat for this style that often introduces individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy before taking an abrupt turn into shocking territory. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to settle into its world before it gets upended.
Unique Infection Origin
The film also offers a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the film had spent additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this condition produces on people is absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some instances of questionable decision-making (like any typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object is available instead of standing still like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals express gratitude for each other seem much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message about family or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful scares, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining
