Generally speaking, I'm over zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels mostly depleted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.
Superb Rhythm and Character Development
One of this movie's greatest strengths is its superb pacing. It kicks off with a striking initial scene where a calm family party is violently disrupted by a vehicle crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to see this household prior to the tragedy occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough time to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and he enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. This household head consists of her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so invested with this household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime to showing us the identity of every family member represents, and how they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled me to connect to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare feat for this style that often introduces individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, so it's a real shock when things finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama with slightly dark humor prior to taking a sudden shift toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to settle into its world before it gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this condition produces on people is absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and are almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some instances of dubious decision-making (like any typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than freezing like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals express gratitude toward one another seem far more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message regarding relatives or community, as well. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're successful frights, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and enjoyable
