The streaming giant's Startling Latest Undead Flick Breathes New Life into a Overused Category

For the most part, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels largely depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.

Impressive Rhythm and Personal Growth

Among the film's greatest strengths is its excellent rhythm. It begins with a striking initial scene where a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see this household prior to the tragedy struck.

In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary personalities prior to the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out among 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, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family head is Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely strained.

Invested in the Drama

I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked this was a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime to showing us who each family member is, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled me to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style that often introduces individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a real shock once events finally go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial sequences of the party and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to making an abrupt shift into shocking ground. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives enough time to immerse in the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.

Original Infection Source

The film additionally presents a quite interesting reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this affliction has on humans proves utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and are almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.

Capable Characters

More impressive compared to the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of questionable decision-making (as in any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights as death nears.

Realistic Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters express gratitude toward one another feel far more genuine.

Predictable Conclusion

Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight about family or society, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are effective frights, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable