Typically, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Character Development
Among the film's greatest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins with a striking initial scene where a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to see the family before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch is her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so invested with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could sound like a drawback, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film depicting us the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits allowed the audience to connect with the characters enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine shock once events eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy before taking an abrupt turn into "holy shit" territory. These early moments don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives enough time to settle into its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Origin
The film also offers a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the movie had spent a little more time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the impact this affliction has on humans is utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and are almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of questionable choices (as in typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available instead of freezing like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances where these individuals express gratitude for each other seem much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message about family or community, as well. Rather, it's primarily serving up frights. But they're successful scares, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable
