Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category feels largely depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Personal Development
One of this movie's strongest assets is its superb rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family party is violently interrupted when a vehicle crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking individual emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household prior to the disaster occurred.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has understandably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and he enjoys gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family head consists of her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so invested in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities allowed the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a real surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama with slightly dark humor before taking a sudden shift toward shocking territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Source
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect this condition produces on people proves utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and are almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
Even better than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of dubious choices (like any any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger approaches.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming to the undead, this proved a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation for each other feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or community, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are successful frights, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and entertaining
