Typically, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Character Development
One of this movie's greatest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It begins with a striking initial scene where a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted when a van plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family prior to the tragedy occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so invested with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of the film to showing viewers the identity of every family member represents, and how they add to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing traits allowed the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre that often presents characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a real shock when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama with slightly dark humor prior to taking a sudden shift toward shocking territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to immerse in its world before it gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Origin
This movie also offers a quite interesting reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the movie had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly potion which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this condition produces on humans proves absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
Even better than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are a few examples of questionable decision-making (like any typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like prey caught in lights while danger approaches.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters express gratitude toward one another seem far more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message regarding relatives or community, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful scares, and because the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and entertaining
