Generally speaking, I'm over zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels mostly depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 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 turning out quite entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Character Growth
Among this movie's greatest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins with a striking opening sequence in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient time to get to know the primary personalities before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. This has predictably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. This household patriarch is her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy company named 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 is incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime depicting viewers who each family member is, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style that often presents individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine shock once events eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy prior to taking an abrupt turn into shocking territory. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting before it gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Origin
The film also offers a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While we do learn something regarding how it started, I wish the movie devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this condition produces on humans proves utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring decision, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and are almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
Even better than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some instances of questionable choices (like any typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object is available instead of standing still like prey caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes those instances when these characters do show appreciation for each other feel far more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message regarding relatives or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're successful frights, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining
