Generally speaking, I've grown tired of undead films. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems mostly exhausted nowadays. 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, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.
Superb Rhythm and Personal Growth
Among this movie's greatest assets is its superb rhythm. It begins with a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family party is violently disrupted when a van crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see the family before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough time to become acquainted with the primary characters before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has understandably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. The family head consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on only two things: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot this was a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount 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 the audience to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style that often presents characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a real shock when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor before taking an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" territory. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to immerse in its world prior to it gets upended.
Unique Infection Origin
This movie also offers a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the film had spent additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir which seems to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the impact this condition has on people is utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of questionable decision-making (as in any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object they find instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, which was a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude for each other seem much more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message regarding relatives or community, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're effective scares, and because the movie gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
