Typically, I'm over undead films. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems largely exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out quite entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Development
One of this movie's strongest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence where a calm family gathering is violently disrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family before the disaster occurred.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary personalities prior to the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has predictably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and who loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. The family patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues and their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film depicting us who each relative is, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits allowed the audience to relate with the characters enough to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often presents characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine shock once events finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with slightly dark humor before making an abrupt shift into "holy shit" ground. These early moments don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient time to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Source
This movie also offers a quite interesting explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a new batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the impact this condition produces on humans proves absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite convincing, and are almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of questionable decision-making (as in any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to kick an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object they find instead of freezing like prey in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals express gratitude for each other seem much more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight about family or community, as well. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're effective scares, and because the movie allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and enjoyable
