For the most part, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems largely depleted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth
Among the film's strongest strengths is its excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene where a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a van plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family before the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary characters before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has understandably led to a rift between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so engrossed with this household's issues and their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film to showing viewers the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed the audience to connect with the characters enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a real surprise when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to making a sudden shift toward shocking territory. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to settle into its world before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While some background is provided something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the movie devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the impact this condition has on people is absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and are almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some examples of questionable choices (like any any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available instead of standing still like prey caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a welcome authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals express appreciation for each other feel far more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message about family or community, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up frights. But they're successful frights, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
