Generally speaking, I've had my fill of undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels largely exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Character Development
One of the film's strongest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It begins with a memorable opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a van plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to see the family before the tragedy struck.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know its main personalities before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and who loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so invested with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every family member is, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat for this style that often presents characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine shock when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades like a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor before taking a sudden turn toward "holy shit" ground. These early scenes don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to immerse in the setting before it gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Origin
This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the movie had spent additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this affliction has on people proves absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of dubious decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object they find rather than freezing like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters express gratitude for each other feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight about family or society, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're effective frights, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
