Typically, I'm over undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels largely exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated turning out quite enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Development
One of this movie's greatest strengths is its excellent pacing. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted when a van plows into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to see this household prior to the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and he loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. The family patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on only two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film to showing viewers who each family member is, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled me to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a real surprise once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor before taking a sudden shift toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient time to settle into the setting before it gets upended.
Original Zombification Origin
The film additionally presents a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the film devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this affliction produces on humans is absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and are almost certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of dubious choices (as in any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find rather than standing still like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters express appreciation toward one another seem much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. 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 frights, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining
