Typically, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels largely depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for months. However, Netflix's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth
Among this movie's greatest assets is its excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted when a van plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. This has predictably led to a falling out between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household head is her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film to showing viewers the identity of every relative represents, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled the audience to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre that often presents individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine shock when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy before taking an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Unique Infection Origin
This movie also offers a fairly interesting reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of context, the impact this condition has on people is absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and are almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of dubious choices (as in typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find instead of freezing like prey in headlights while danger approaches.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters do show appreciation for each other feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or community, as well. Rather, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are effective scares, and since the film allows every personality enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable
