Netflix's Surprising New Zombie Film Injects Fresh Air into a Overused Genre

For the most part, I've grown tired of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels largely exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.

Excellent Rhythm and Character Growth

Among the film's strongest assets is its superb pacing. It begins with a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family party is violently disrupted when a van crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household prior to the disaster occurred.

In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives viewers sufficient time to become acquainted with the primary characters before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch is her dad, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely tense.

Invested in the Drama

I became so invested in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might sound like a negative, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime depicting us who each family member represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to relate with the characters enough to care about their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre that often introduces individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a real shock when things eventually deteriorate.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The opening scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy before taking an abrupt shift into "holy shit" ground. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to settle into its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.

Original Infection Origin

This movie also offers a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided something regarding how it started, I wish the film had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this condition has on people is utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and are practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.

Capable Personalities

Even better than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of dubious choices (like any typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find rather than standing still like prey in headlights while danger nears.

Realistic Familial Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people 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 pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear 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 location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals express appreciation toward one another seem much more genuine.

Predictable Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're effective scares, and because the film allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable