Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category seems largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Development
One of the film's strongest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family party is violently interrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary characters prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. This household head is her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on only two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so invested in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I almost forgot I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime to showing us who each family member represents, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities allowed me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often introduces characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real surprise once events eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor before taking a sudden shift into "holy shit" territory. These early moments don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to settle into its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Origin
The film also offers a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this condition has on humans is absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
More impressive than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of dubious choices (as in any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object they find instead of freezing like prey in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they decide over the phone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another seem much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're successful frights, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining
