Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels largely depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Growth
One of this movie's strongest strengths is its excellent pacing. It begins using a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted when a van crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This intense scene is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household prior to the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough time to get to know its main characters before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably caused a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. This household patriarch is her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of the film depicting viewers who each family member is, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing personalities allowed me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, so it's a real shock when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a K-Drama with slightly dark humor before making an abrupt turn toward shocking ground. These early moments don't focus as much on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to immerse in the setting before it gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
The film also offers a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the impact this condition produces on humans proves absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some examples of questionable decision-making (as in any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object they find rather than standing still like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, which was a pleasantly authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals express gratitude for each other seem far more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight about family or society, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're effective scares, and because the movie gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
