For the most part, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category seems mostly depleted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
Among this movie's greatest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It begins using a striking initial scene where a peaceful family party is violently interrupted when a vehicle plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see the family prior to the tragedy struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers sufficient time to become acquainted with its main characters prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime to showing viewers who each relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits enabled me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre that often introduces characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, so it's a real shock once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy prior to taking an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient time to immerse in its world before everything gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
This movie additionally presents a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited background, the effect this condition has on people proves utterly disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and are almost certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of dubious decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters do show appreciation toward one another feel much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight about family or community, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're effective frights, and since the film gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable
