Generally speaking, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Rhythm and Personal Development
One of this movie's greatest assets is its superb pacing. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family party is violently interrupted by a vehicle crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the disaster occurred.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives viewers sufficient time to become acquainted with its main characters prior to the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. This household patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked this was a horror film—which might sound like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime to showing us the identity of every relative is, and how they add to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities allowed the audience to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently presents individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a genuine surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a K-Drama with slightly dark humor prior to making an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" ground. These early moments don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to immerse in its world before it gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
This movie also offers a quite intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this condition has on humans proves utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and are practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are a few instances of dubious decision-making (as in any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals express gratitude toward one another seem much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are successful scares, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable
