Generally speaking, I'm over undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Growth
One of this movie's strongest strengths is its superb pacing. It begins using a striking initial scene in which a calm family party is violently disrupted when a van crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the tragedy occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has predictably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and he loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. This household patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two things: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime to showing us the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often presents characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine shock once events finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to taking a sudden shift toward "holy shit" territory. These early moments don't focus as much on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to settle into the setting prior to it gets upended.
Original Zombification Origin
This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the film had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion which seems to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited background, the impact this affliction has on people proves utterly disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and they're practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of questionable decision-making (as in typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals express appreciation toward one another seem far more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message about family or community, as well. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're effective scares, and since the movie gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and enjoyable
