Typically, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems largely exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, Netflix's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
One of the film's greatest strengths is its excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a van plows into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family prior to the tragedy struck.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough time to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. This household head consists of her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot this was a horror film—which might seem like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime depicting viewers who each relative represents, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits enabled the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat for this style which frequently introduces characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine shock when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and various household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama with slightly dark humor prior to taking a sudden shift toward "holy shit" territory. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Origin
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the movie devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly potion that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the impact this condition produces on people proves utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and are almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
Even better than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of dubious choices (like any any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals express gratitude for each other feel far more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message about family or society, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're effective frights, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable
