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 gripping, the genre feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, Netflix's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Rhythm and Personal Development
One of the film's greatest strengths is its superb pacing. It begins with a striking opening sequence where a calm family party is violently disrupted when a van plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see this household before the disaster struck.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and he loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. The family patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he seems focused on just two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues and their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime to showing viewers who each family member represents, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled the audience to relate with the characters enough to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often presents characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a genuine surprise once events eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy before taking an abrupt shift into "holy shit" territory. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to settle into the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
The film also offers a quite interesting reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although some background is provided something regarding how it started, I wish the film devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly potion that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the effect this condition produces on humans proves utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and they're almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some examples of dubious decision-making (like any any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find instead of standing still like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another seem far more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or community, as well. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're successful scares, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
