Typically, I'm over undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels largely exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Development
One of this movie's strongest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It begins using a striking opening sequence where a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see the family prior to the disaster struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough opportunity to get to know the primary characters prior to the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. This has understandably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. The family head is Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so invested in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked this was a horror film—which might sound like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime depicting us who each relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing traits allowed the audience to connect with the characters enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often presents characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a real surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy prior to making an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives enough time to settle into its world before it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie also offers a quite interesting explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the effect this condition has on humans proves utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of dubious decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like prey in headlights as death nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close spot. 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 relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters do show appreciation for each other seem far more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are effective frights, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is an engaging and enjoyable
