Typically, I'm over zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved quite entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Personal Growth
One of the film's greatest strengths is its excellent pacing. It begins using a striking opening sequence in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family before the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know its main characters before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has understandably caused a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and who loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household head is her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked this was a horror film—which might sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime depicting viewers who each family member is, and how they add to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities enabled me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style that often presents individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine shock when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy prior to taking a sudden shift into shocking territory. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to immerse in its world before it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
The film additionally presents a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent additional time on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this condition has on humans proves absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and are practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of dubious choices (as in any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with the nearest heavy object is available rather than standing still like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a welcome realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters do show appreciation toward one another seem much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message about family or society, as well. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are effective scares, and since the film allows every personality enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable
