Generally speaking, I've grown tired of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category feels largely depleted nowadays. 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, managed to defy my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Personal Development
Among the film's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It begins using a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger emerges and begins attacking the attendees. This intense moment is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household prior to the tragedy struck.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough opportunity to get to know its main characters before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who appears focused on just two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot this was a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film depicting us who each family member is, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing traits enabled the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat for this style which frequently presents characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine surprise once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy before making an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" territory. These early scenes don't focus as much on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting before it gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Origin
This movie additionally presents a quite intriguing reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the impact this condition has on humans is absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and are practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
More impressive than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of questionable choices (like any typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like prey in headlights as death nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby 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 brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters express gratitude toward one another seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message about family or community, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. But they're successful scares, and because the movie gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable
