For the most part, I've had my fill of undead films. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems mostly depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
One of the film's greatest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a van crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family prior to the disaster struck.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough time to get to know the primary personalities prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on only two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so invested with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime depicting us the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to relate to the personalities enough to care about their fate—a rare feat for this style which frequently presents individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise once events eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to making an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" ground. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting prior to it gets upended.
Original Infection Source
The film also offers a quite interesting reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the movie devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this condition has on people is utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and they're almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are a few instances of questionable decision-making (as in typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available instead of freezing like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, which was a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent 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 location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters do show appreciation for each other feel far more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. Yet these are effective frights, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining
