For the most part, I've grown tired of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems largely exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Character Growth
One of this movie's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It begins using a memorable initial scene where a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to see the family prior to the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough opportunity to get to know the primary personalities prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. 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 who enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family head consists of her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on only two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime depicting viewers who each relative is, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a real surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to making an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to settle into its world before it gets upended.
Original Infection Origin
The film also offers a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a new batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the movie devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this affliction produces on people is absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and they're practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of dubious choices (like any any good undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available rather than freezing like prey caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude for each other seem far more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message about family or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're successful frights, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
