Typically, I'm over undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category feels largely depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth
One of the film's greatest strengths is its excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a striking initial scene in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a van plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to see this household before the disaster struck.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two things: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so invested in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film to showing us the identity of every relative is, and how they add to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities enabled me to relate to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare feat in a genre which frequently presents individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a real surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a K-Drama with slightly dark humor before taking an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient time to settle into its world before everything gets upended.
Original Infection Source
The film also offers a quite interesting reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this condition has on people proves absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and are practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of dubious choices (as in any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like prey in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, which was a welcome authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters express appreciation for each other seem far more genuine.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight about family or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are effective frights, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
