For the most part, I'm over undead films. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, Netflix's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth
One of the film's greatest assets is its superb pacing. It begins with a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family gathering is violently disrupted by a vehicle plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking individual emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to observe this household before the tragedy struck.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough time to get to know its main personalities before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime depicting us who each family member represents, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits enabled the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often presents individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a genuine surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy prior to making a sudden turn into "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to it gets upended.
Original Zombification Origin
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this condition has on humans is utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and they're practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of dubious decision-making (like any typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals express gratitude for each other feel much more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are successful scares, and since the film allows every personality enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable