🔗 Share this article

Generally speaking, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels largely depleted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved quite entertaining.

Excellent Rhythm and Character Development

One of the film's strongest assets is its superb rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family party is violently disrupted by a van plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see this household before the tragedy struck.

In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient time to get to know the primary personalities before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. This household patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly tense.

Invested in the Drama

I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime depicting us who each family member represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently presents characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a real surprise once events finally go wrong.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The opening sequences from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy before making a sudden turn toward "holy shit" ground. These early moments don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to settle into its world before everything gets upended.

Unique Infection Origin

This movie also offers a fairly interesting reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the film devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly potion which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this affliction produces on people proves utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and they're practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.

Resourceful Personalities

More impressive than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some instances of dubious decision-making (as in typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object is available rather than freezing like a deer in headlights as death nears.

Realistic Familial Strike

The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, this proved a welcome authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters do show gratitude toward one another seem far more genuine.

Stereotypical Conclusion

Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight about family or community, as well. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are successful scares, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining