Generally speaking, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems mostly depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Growth
One of the film's strongest assets is its excellent pacing. It kicks off using a striking initial scene where a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle plows into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household prior to the disaster struck.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough opportunity to get to know the primary personalities prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family head consists of her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he seems focused on just two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so invested with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked this was a horror film—which might seem like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film depicting us who each relative represents, and how they add to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently presents characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real shock once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor before taking an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient time to immerse in its world before everything gets upended.
Original Infection Source
The film additionally presents a fairly interesting explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the movie devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited background, the effect this affliction has on humans proves utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
Even better than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some examples of questionable choices (as in typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a welcome authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another feel far more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message about family or society, as well. Rather, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are effective frights, and since the film allows every personality enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and enjoyable
