For the most part, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems largely depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Character Growth
Among this movie's greatest strengths is its superb pacing. It kicks off with a striking initial scene where a calm family party is violently interrupted when a van crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives viewers sufficient time to get to know its main characters prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly forgot this was a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every family member represents, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to relate with the characters enough to care about their outcome—a rare feat in a genre that often introduces individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real surprise once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to making an abrupt shift into "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
The film additionally presents a quite interesting reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease originates in a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited background, the impact this affliction has on people proves utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of questionable choices (like any any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find rather than standing still like prey caught in lights while danger approaches.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a welcome authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters express gratitude for each other feel far more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight about family or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. Yet these are successful scares, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable