Generally speaking, I've grown tired of undead films. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Development
Among the film's strongest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It begins using a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family party is violently disrupted by a van crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then followed by a look back, allowing us to observe the family prior to the disaster struck.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has predictably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. This household patriarch is her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who seems focused on only two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film depicting us the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits allowed me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a real surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy prior to making a sudden shift toward shocking territory. These early moments aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
This movie additionally presents a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding how it started, I wish the film devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the effect this condition produces on humans is absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and are practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
Even better than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of questionable decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger approaches.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome authentic subversion from the "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 movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals express gratitude for each other feel far more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight about family or community, as well. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're successful frights, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable
