Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels largely depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Growth
Among the film's greatest assets is its excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see the family prior to the disaster occurred.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough time to get to know the primary characters prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and who loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. The family head consists of her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues and their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits allowed me to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often introduces individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and various family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy before taking an abrupt turn into shocking territory. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to it gets upended.
Original Infection Source
This movie also offers a quite interesting reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the film devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the impact this affliction produces on people is utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some examples of dubious decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger approaches.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a welcome authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals express appreciation for each other seem far more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're successful scares, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining
