Generally speaking, I've grown tired of zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category seems largely exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Development
Among this movie's strongest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It begins using a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted by a van plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe this household before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient time to get to know the primary personalities prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and who loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. The family head is her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a negative, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime to showing us who each family member is, and how they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities allowed me to connect to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a real shock when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy before taking an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough time to settle into its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
The film also offers a quite interesting reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding how it started, I wish the film devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion which seems to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this affliction has on people proves absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and are practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of dubious choices (as in any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. 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 is available rather than standing still like prey in headlights while danger nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters express gratitude toward one another seem much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message about family or society, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're effective scares, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and entertaining
