Generally speaking, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems mostly depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Development
Among the film's strongest strengths is its excellent pacing. It begins with a memorable initial scene in which a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is then followed by a look back, allowing us to observe this household prior to the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with the primary characters before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and who enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch is her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he 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 found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot this was a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film depicting viewers the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often presents characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a genuine surprise once events eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy before taking an abrupt shift into "holy shit" territory. These early moments don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting before everything gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie also offers a quite intriguing reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the movie had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly potion which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this affliction has on humans proves utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and they're practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of questionable choices (as in any good undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like a deer in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, which was 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 all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances where these individuals express gratitude toward one another feel far more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message about family or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're effective frights, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable
