The streaming giant's Unexpected Latest Zombie Flick Breathes Fresh Air into a Overused Style

Typically, I'm over undead films. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels largely depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. However, the platform's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.

Excellent Pacing and Character Development

One of the film's greatest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a striking initial scene in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household prior to the tragedy occurred.

In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has predictably caused a falling out between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly tense.

Invested in the Conflict

I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime depicting viewers who each relative represents, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to connect to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style that often introduces individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a real shock when things eventually go wrong.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama with slightly dark humor before taking an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to immerse in its world before everything gets upended.

Unique Infection Source

This movie additionally presents a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although some background is provided something regarding how it started, I wish the movie had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the impact this condition has on people is absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and are practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.

Capable Characters

Even better than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of dubious decision-making (as in any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights as death nears.

Believable Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters do show appreciation toward one another seem much more sincere.

Stereotypical Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message about family or society, as well. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're effective frights, and since the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is an engaging and entertaining