Typically, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category seems mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth
Among this movie's greatest assets is its superb rhythm. It kicks off using a striking initial scene in which a calm family party is violently disrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household prior to the disaster struck.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough opportunity to get to know the primary personalities prior to the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has predictably led to a falling out among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household patriarch is her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on just two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked this was a horror film—which might seem like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime to showing us who each relative represents, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits allowed the audience to relate with the characters enough to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often presents characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a real surprise once events eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama with slightly dark humor before taking an abrupt shift into "holy shit" territory. These early scenes aren't centered as much on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to settle into its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
The film additionally presents a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited context, the impact this condition produces on humans is utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and are almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some instances of dubious decision-making (like any any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find instead of standing still like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters do show appreciation for each other seem much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are successful scares, and since the film allows every personality enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
