For the most part, I've had my fill of undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category seems largely exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated turning out quite enjoyable.
Superb Rhythm and Character Growth
One of the film's strongest assets is its excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence where a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted by a van crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the disaster struck.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family head is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so invested with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of the film depicting us the identity of every relative represents, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often introduces individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to devour, so it's a genuine surprise once events eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy before taking an abrupt turn toward shocking ground. These early moments aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to settle into its world before it gets upended.
Original Infection Origin
The film also offers a fairly interesting reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this condition has on humans is utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and they're almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
Even better than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some examples of questionable decision-making (as in any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object they find instead of standing still like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable because the film 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 much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight about family or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful frights, and since the film gives each character enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining
