Netflix's Unexpected New Undead Flick Injects Fresh Air into a Tired Genre

Generally speaking, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.

Superb Rhythm and Personal Growth

One of this movie's greatest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a memorable initial scene in which a calm family gathering is violently disrupted by a van plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to see this household prior to the disaster occurred.

In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough opportunity to get to know its main characters before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has understandably caused a rift between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. The family head consists of her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on only two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely tense.

Invested in the Conflict

I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film to showing viewers the identity of every relative represents, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled the audience to connect with the characters enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style which frequently presents characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, so it's a real surprise once events eventually deteriorate.

Evocative of Parasite

The opening sequences of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before making an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to immerse in the setting before everything gets turned upside down.

Unique Infection Source

This movie additionally presents a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the impact this condition has on humans proves absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and are almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.

Resourceful Characters

Even better than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of dubious choices (like any any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument is available instead of freezing like prey in headlights as death nears.

Realistic Familial Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "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 apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals express appreciation toward one another feel far more genuine.

Stereotypical Ending

Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message about family or community, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're successful scares, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and enjoyable