Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Development
One of the film's greatest assets lies in the superb pacing. It begins using a striking initial scene where a peaceful family party is violently interrupted when a van plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household before the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough opportunity to get to know its main personalities before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has predictably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family head is Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime depicting us who each relative represents, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits allowed me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often introduces individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a real surprise once events eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy prior to taking a sudden turn toward "holy shit" territory. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to immerse in its world before it gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Origin
The film additionally presents a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a new batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the movie had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the effect this affliction produces on humans proves utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and are practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
Even better compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of dubious decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object is available instead of standing still like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a welcome authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters express appreciation toward one another seem much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight about family or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are successful scares, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining