For the most part, I'm over undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category seems mostly depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Development
Among the film's strongest strengths is its excellent pacing. It kicks off using a memorable opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a van plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is then followed by a look back, allowing us to see this household prior to the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough time to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch is her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two things: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so invested with this household's issues and their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot this was a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime to showing us the identity of every family member is, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently introduces characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a real shock once events eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to making a sudden shift toward shocking territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to settle into its world before everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Origin
This movie also offers a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this condition has on humans proves absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and they're practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of dubious choices (like any any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters express gratitude toward one another seem much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really 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 film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable
