Netflix's Startling New Undead Movie Injects New Life into a Stale Style

Typically, I've grown tired of undead films. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels mostly depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. However, Netflix's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out quite entertaining.

Superb Pacing and Personal Growth

One of the film's greatest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins with a memorable opening sequence where a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle plows into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This intense moment is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to observe this household before the tragedy occurred.

Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has understandably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch is her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on only two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely strained.

Engaged in the Conflict

I found myself so invested in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime to showing us who each family member is, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities allowed me to connect to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat in a genre that often presents characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, so it's a real shock once events finally go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The opening scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to making an abrupt turn into shocking ground. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient time to settle into the setting before everything gets upended.

Original Infection Origin

This movie also offers a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a new batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of background, the impact this condition has on people is utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and are practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.

Resourceful Personalities

More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some examples of questionable decision-making (as in any good undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument is available rather than freezing like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.

Believable Familial Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals express appreciation for each other seem far more genuine.

Predictable Ending

In spite of 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 regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. Yet these are successful frights, and because the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining