Generally speaking, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Character Growth
Among this movie's strongest assets lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family party is violently interrupted when a vehicle crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see the family prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary characters prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly forgot this was a horror film—which might sound like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of the film depicting us the identity of every family member represents, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare feat in a genre which frequently presents individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a real surprise once events eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and various household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama with slightly dark humor before taking a sudden turn into "holy shit" ground. These early scenes don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to settle into its world prior to everything gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
The film additionally presents a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited background, the impact this affliction has on humans proves utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and they're almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some examples of questionable decision-making (like any typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object they find rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals express appreciation for each other seem far more genuine.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message about family or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are effective frights, and because the movie gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining
