For the most part, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels largely depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Superb Rhythm and Personal Growth
Among the film's greatest assets is its excellent pacing. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene in which a calm family gathering is violently disrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense moment is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see the family prior to the tragedy occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough time to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has understandably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and who loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household head is Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot I was watching a horror film—something that could sound like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime to showing us the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing traits enabled the audience to connect to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor before taking an abrupt turn into "holy shit" territory. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough time to immerse in the setting before everything gets upended.
Original Infection Source
The film additionally presents a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the film devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the effect this condition has on humans proves utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and are almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of questionable decision-making (as in 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 face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available instead of freezing like prey in headlights as death nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, which was a pleasantly authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes those instances when these characters express appreciation toward one another seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight about family or society, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're successful frights, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable
