Generally speaking, I'm over undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems largely exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Character Development
One of the film's greatest assets lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off using a striking initial scene in which a calm family gathering is violently disrupted by a vehicle plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know its main personalities before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose ex close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has understandably led to a rift between the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. This household patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every family member represents, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits enabled me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat in a genre that often introduces characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to devour, so it's a genuine surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama with slightly dark humor before taking a sudden turn into "holy shit" ground. These early moments don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives enough opportunity to settle into the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Origin
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While we do learn something regarding how it started, I wish the film had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the effect this affliction produces on people proves utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and are practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
Even better than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of questionable decision-making (like any any good undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object they find rather than freezing like a deer in headlights as death approaches.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, this proved a welcome authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters do show appreciation toward one another seem much more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message about family or community, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are effective scares, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable
