Generally speaking, I'm over zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems mostly depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Development
Among the film's greatest strengths is its excellent rhythm. It begins with a striking opening sequence where a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted when a van crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see this household before the disaster struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. The family head consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime to showing viewers who each relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities allowed me to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently presents characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, so it's a genuine shock when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to making an abrupt turn into "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to settle into its world before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
The film also offers a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the movie had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly potion which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the impact this condition produces on humans is utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of questionable decision-making (as in any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object they find rather than standing still like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, this proved 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!" trope often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters express gratitude for each other seem far more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message about family or society, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're successful scares, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
