Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems largely exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Development
One of the film's greatest strengths is its excellent pacing. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence where a calm family party is violently interrupted when a vehicle plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough time to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has understandably led to a falling out between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues and their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot this was a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film to showing us who each family member represents, and how they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, so it's a genuine shock once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor before taking an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" ground. These early moments don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to immerse in its world prior to it gets upended.
Unique Infection Origin
This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, I wish the film devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited context, the effect this affliction produces on people proves utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
Even better than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some examples of questionable decision-making (as in any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger approaches.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, which was a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters do show appreciation toward one another seem much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are successful scares, and because the movie allows every personality enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable
