Generally speaking, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category feels mostly depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Character Growth
One of the film's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family party is violently disrupted by a vehicle plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe the family before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and who loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household head consists of her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on just two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a negative, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film depicting us who each family member represents, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits allowed the audience to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat in a genre that often introduces characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine shock once events finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges actually 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 "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to settle into its world prior to everything gets upended.
Original Infection Origin
This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the film had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to producing a lethal potion which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited context, the impact this condition produces on people is absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some instances of dubious choices (as in any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available instead of freezing like prey in headlights while danger approaches.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters do show gratitude toward one another feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message about family or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. Yet these are successful scares, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and entertaining
