Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels largely depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
One of this movie's strongest assets lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a van plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family before the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives viewers sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has predictably caused a falling out between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and who enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. The family patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on only two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so invested with this household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked this was a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits allowed me to relate with the characters enough to care about their fate—a rare feat for this style that often introduces individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a real shock once events finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama with slightly dark humor before taking an abrupt turn into "holy shit" ground. These early scenes aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Origin
The film also offers a fairly interesting explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the movie devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this affliction produces on humans proves utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and are practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of dubious decision-making (as in any good undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming 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 forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters do show appreciation for each other seem much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or community, as well. Rather, it's primarily delivering frights. But they're successful scares, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable
