For the most part, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. However, Netflix's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Personal Development
One of the film's greatest assets is its excellent pacing. It begins with a striking initial scene where a calm family gathering is violently interrupted by a vehicle plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to see the family before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough time to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and who loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. This household head is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so engrossed in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I almost forgot I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime depicting viewers who each relative represents, and how they add to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits allowed the audience to relate to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style that often presents characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, so it's a real shock when things finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy before making a sudden shift into shocking territory. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient time to immerse in its world before it gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Origin
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the effect this condition has on people is utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and they're almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of questionable choices (like any any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available instead of standing still like prey in headlights as death nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a welcome authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another feel far more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight about family or society, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're effective scares, and since the film gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and entertaining
