Typically, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category seems largely depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Character Development
Among this movie's strongest strengths is its excellent pacing. It begins with a memorable initial scene where a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see the family prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. This household head consists of her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he seems focused on only two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime to showing us the identity of every family member is, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to connect to the personalities enough to care about their fate—a rare feat for this style which frequently presents individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, so it's a real surprise once events eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to taking an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" territory. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient time to immerse in its world prior to it gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
The film also offers a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this condition has on humans proves utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and are practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of questionable choices (like any typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find rather than freezing like prey caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals express appreciation toward one another feel far more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message about family or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are effective scares, and because the movie gives each character enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is an engaging and entertaining
