Generally speaking, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems mostly depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. However, Netflix's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth
One of the film's greatest assets is its superb pacing. It kicks off with a striking initial scene in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see this household before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough opportunity to get to know the primary characters before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably led to a falling out among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch is her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, but in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film to showing viewers who each relative represents, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities allowed the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare feat for this style that often presents characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, so it's a genuine shock when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama with slightly dark humor before taking a sudden turn toward "holy shit" territory. These early moments don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough time to settle into its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
The film also offers a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this condition has on people is absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of questionable choices (like any any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument is available rather than freezing like prey caught in lights while danger approaches.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters express gratitude toward one another seem much more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. Yet these are effective scares, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
