Generally speaking, I'm over undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels mostly depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Growth
One of this movie's strongest strengths is its superb pacing. It kicks off using a striking initial scene where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see the family prior to the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has understandably led to a rift between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. This household head consists of her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked this was a horror film—which might sound like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every relative is, and how they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed me to relate with the characters enough to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine shock when things finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a story that masquerades like a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy before taking an abrupt shift into shocking territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to immerse in the setting before it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion which seems to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of context, the effect this condition has on humans is absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and are practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of questionable decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like prey in headlights while danger approaches.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming to the undead, this proved a welcome authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes those instances where these individuals express gratitude for each other seem far more sincere.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are successful scares, and since the movie gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and enjoyable
