For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels largely exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. However, Netflix's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Character Development
One of the film's greatest assets is its superb rhythm. It begins using a striking opening sequence in which a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the tragedy struck.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient time to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably led to a rift among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted but socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. This household head is Nes' father, the owner of a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of the film depicting viewers who each family member is, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed me to relate to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a real shock once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various household exchanges actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama with slightly dark humor before making an abrupt turn into "holy shit" ground. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient time to immerse in its world prior to everything gets upended.
Original Infection Origin
This movie also offers a quite interesting reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir which seems to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this affliction has on humans is utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and are practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
Even better compared to the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of questionable decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find instead of freezing like a deer in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, this proved a welcome authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals express appreciation toward one another feel much more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message about family or society, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. Yet these are successful scares, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and entertaining
