For the most part, I'm over undead films. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Growth
One of this movie's greatest strengths is its superb rhythm. It begins using a striking initial scene where a peaceful family party is violently disrupted when a vehicle crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense moment is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household prior to the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough time to become acquainted with the primary characters prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. This household head consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film depicting viewers the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often presents individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine shock when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before taking an abrupt shift into "holy shit" territory. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world prior to everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the impact this condition has on people proves utterly disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and are practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of questionable choices (like any any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This makes those instances where these individuals express gratitude toward one another feel much more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're effective frights, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and entertaining
