Generally speaking, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Growth
One of the film's greatest strengths is its excellent pacing. It begins with a striking opening sequence in which a calm family gathering is violently disrupted when a van crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe this household prior to the tragedy struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has predictably caused a rift between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked this was a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every family member represents, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities enabled me to connect with the characters enough to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently presents characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a real surprise once events finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before taking a sudden shift toward shocking territory. These early scenes aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to immerse in its world before it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
This movie also offers a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While some background is provided something regarding how it started, I wish the movie had spent a little more time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this condition produces on humans proves utterly disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are a few examples of questionable choices (as in any good undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find instead of standing still like prey in headlights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters do show appreciation for each other feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message about family or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're successful scares, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
