For the most part, I've grown tired of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems largely depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Personal Development
One of this movie's strongest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins using a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted by a van crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family before the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. This household patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so invested with this household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film depicting us who each family member is, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare feat for this style that often presents 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 consume, so it's a genuine shock when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor before making a sudden turn into "holy shit" territory. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Origin
The film also offers a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this affliction produces on humans proves absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and are practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of dubious decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals express gratitude toward one another seem far more sincere.
Predictable 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 regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are successful frights, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
