Generally speaking, I'm over zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels mostly depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Character Development
One of this movie's greatest assets is its excellent rhythm. It begins with a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has predictably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted but socially awkward, and who loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could sound like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film to showing viewers the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits allowed the audience to relate with the characters enough to care about their outcome—a rare feat for this style which frequently introduces individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a real shock when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor before taking a sudden turn toward "holy shit" ground. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to immerse in its world prior to everything gets upended.
Original Infection Origin
This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the film had spent a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited context, the impact this condition has on people proves utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of questionable decision-making (as in typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find rather than standing still like prey in headlights while danger approaches.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances where these individuals express appreciation for each other feel far more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight about family or community, as well. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're successful frights, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining
