Generally speaking, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels largely exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, Netflix's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Character Development
One of the film's greatest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It begins using a striking initial scene where a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough time to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has understandably caused a rift between the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. The family patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on only two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so invested with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot this was a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film depicting viewers the identity of every family member represents, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits allowed me to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare feat for this style which frequently introduces individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine shock when things eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy before making an abrupt shift into shocking ground. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough time to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
The film additionally presents a quite intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this condition produces on people is absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and they're almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of questionable decision-making (like any any good undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available rather than standing still like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters do show gratitude toward one another feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are effective scares, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining
