Generally speaking, I'm over zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems largely depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out quite enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Development
One of the film's greatest assets is its excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence where a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a van crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see this household before the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient time to get to know the primary characters prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. The family patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so invested with this household's issues and their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime to showing viewers who each family member represents, and how they add to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed me to relate to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently presents characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a real surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to making an abrupt shift toward shocking territory. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient time to immerse in the setting before everything gets upended.
Original Infection Source
This movie also offers a fairly interesting explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this condition has on people proves absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and they're almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
Even better than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of questionable choices (like any any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger approaches.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, which was a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude for each other feel much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're successful scares, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
