For the most part, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems largely exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Development
One of this movie's greatest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence where a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see this household prior to the disaster occurred.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household head consists of Nes' father, the owner of a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film to showing viewers who each family member represents, and how they add to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities allowed the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare feat in a genre which frequently presents characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine shock once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy before taking a sudden turn into "holy shit" ground. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to settle into the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
The film also offers a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the film devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of background, the impact this affliction produces on humans is absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and are practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of dubious choices (like any 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 a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available rather than freezing like prey in headlights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a welcome authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals express appreciation toward one another seem much more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message regarding relatives or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're successful frights, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable
