Typically, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems largely depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Superb Rhythm and Character Growth
One of the film's strongest assets is its superb pacing. It begins using a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family before the tragedy struck.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know its main personalities before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out between the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. This household patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on only two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked this was a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime to showing us who each family member is, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits enabled the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often presents individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine shock once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor before taking a sudden shift toward shocking ground. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives enough opportunity to immerse in its world prior to everything gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
The film also offers a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of background, the impact this affliction produces on humans proves absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and are practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of questionable choices (like any any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find rather than freezing like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters express gratitude for each other feel much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're successful scares, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is an engaging and enjoyable
