For the most part, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels largely depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated turning out quite entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Character Development
Among the film's strongest strengths is its superb pacing. It begins with a memorable initial scene where a calm family gathering is violently interrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family before the disaster struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough time to get to know the primary characters prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has understandably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch is her dad, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on only two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely tense.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film depicting us the identity of every family member is, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities allowed me to relate with the characters enough to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat for this style that often introduces characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine shock once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy prior to taking an abrupt shift into "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives enough time to immerse in its world before everything gets upended.
Original Infection Origin
This movie additionally presents a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the film devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited background, the effect this affliction has on people is utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of dubious decision-making (as in typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find rather than freezing like prey in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation for each other seem far more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight about family or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're effective frights, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and enjoyable
