For the most part, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels largely exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated turning out quite entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Development
One of this movie's strongest assets is its superb rhythm. It begins with a striking initial scene in which a calm family party is violently interrupted by a vehicle plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see this household before the disaster struck.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know its main characters prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch is her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so invested with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could sound like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film to showing us who each relative represents, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a real surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy before making a sudden turn into shocking territory. These early moments don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives enough opportunity to settle into its world prior to it gets upended.
Original Infection Origin
This movie additionally presents a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of background, the impact this condition has on humans proves absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and they're almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are a few examples of dubious choices (as in typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger approaches.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, which was a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they decide over the phone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals express appreciation toward one another seem far more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight about family or society, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're successful frights, and because the film gives each character enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
