Generally speaking, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, Netflix's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Development
One of the film's greatest assets is its superb pacing. It kicks off using a striking initial scene where a calm family party is violently disrupted when a van plows into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense scene is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough time to get to know the primary personalities before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household head is her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot this was a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film depicting us who each relative is, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled the audience to connect with the characters enough to care about their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently presents individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, so it's a real surprise when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and various family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a K-Drama with slightly dark humor prior to taking an abrupt turn into "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting before everything gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
This movie additionally presents a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted additional time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the effect this condition has on people is absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of questionable decision-making (like any any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters express gratitude toward one another feel far more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are successful scares, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
