Typically, 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, the genre feels mostly depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Character Development
Among the film's strongest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins using a memorable opening sequence where a peaceful family party is violently interrupted by a van crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see the family before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough time to become acquainted with the primary characters prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. The family patriarch is her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot this was a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film to showing viewers who each family member is, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities enabled the audience to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently presents individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a real shock once events finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to taking a sudden shift toward shocking territory. These early scenes aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to settle into its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
The film additionally presents a quite interesting reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the film devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited background, the impact this affliction has on people is absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of dubious choices (like any typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object is available instead of freezing like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a welcome realistic 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 apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're successful frights, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and entertaining
