Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category seems largely exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Development
Among the film's greatest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It begins with a memorable initial scene in which a calm family gathering is violently interrupted by a vehicle plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to see the family before the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with its main personalities before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose former close friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has predictably caused a rift between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. The family patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two things: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of the film depicting viewers who each family member represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed me to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often presents individuals just to kill them off 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 genuine surprise when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama with slightly dark humor prior to making a sudden shift toward shocking territory. These early moments don't focus as much on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives enough opportunity to settle into the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Origin
This movie also offers a fairly interesting explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the impact this affliction produces on people is absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and they're almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of dubious decision-making (like any any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find rather than standing still like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals express gratitude for each other feel far more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are effective scares, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
