For the most part, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels largely depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out quite entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Character Growth
One of this movie's strongest assets is its excellent pacing. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering is violently interrupted when a vehicle plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe this household prior to the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. The family patriarch is her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime to showing us who each family member represents, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to relate to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, so it's a real shock once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama with slightly dark humor before taking a sudden turn toward shocking ground. These early moments don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world prior to it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent additional time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this affliction has on humans is absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of questionable decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like prey caught in lights while danger approaches.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This makes those instances where these individuals express appreciation for each other feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or community, as well. Rather, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are effective scares, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
