Generally speaking, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet 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 defy my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.
Superb Rhythm and Character Development
One of the film's greatest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins with a striking initial scene where a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted by a van crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe this household prior to the tragedy struck.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. The family head is her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every family member is, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits allowed the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat for this style which frequently presents individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, so it's a real shock when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to making a sudden turn into shocking ground. These early moments aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to settle into its world prior to it gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
The film additionally presents a quite intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the movie had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited background, the impact this affliction has on humans is absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and are almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
Even better than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some examples of dubious choices (like any typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object they find instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—seem authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals express appreciation for each other seem much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of 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 message about family or society, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. But they're successful scares, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining
