Generally speaking, I've grown tired of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels largely exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Rhythm and Personal Growth
Among this movie's greatest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It begins using a striking initial scene in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a van plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is then followed by a look back, allowing us to observe this household prior to the disaster occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough time to get to know its main personalities prior to the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has predictably led to a rift among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he enjoys gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household head consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he seems focused on just two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so invested in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked this was a horror film—which might sound like a negative, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime to showing us the identity of every family member is, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed me to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare feat for this style that often introduces characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a real shock when things eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor before making a sudden shift into "holy shit" territory. These early scenes don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough time to settle into its world before everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Source
The film also offers a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease originates in a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the movie had spent additional time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the impact this condition produces on humans proves absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and are practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of questionable decision-making (as in any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to kick an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide over the phone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses 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 since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation for each other feel much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're effective scares, and since the film allows every personality enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and entertaining
