The streaming giant's Surprising New Zombie Flick Breathes New Life into a Stale Genre

Typically, I've grown tired of undead films. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved quite entertaining.

Impressive Rhythm and Character Development

Among this movie's greatest strengths is its excellent pacing. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence where a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family before the disaster struck.

In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives viewers sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely tense.

Invested in the Drama

I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues and their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film to showing us the identity of every family member represents, and how they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently introduces characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a real shock when things eventually go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial scenes of the party and various household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to taking a sudden shift toward shocking territory. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to settle into its world before it gets turned upside down.

Original Zombification Origin

The film also offers a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the impact this affliction produces on people is absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.

Capable Personalities

Even better than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of questionable choices (as in typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.

Realistic Familial Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome authentic subversion from that "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 films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters do show appreciation toward one another feel far more genuine.

Predictable Ending

In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message about family or community, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are effective scares, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining