For the most part, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth
One of this movie's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off using a memorable opening sequence where a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted by a van crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe this household prior to the tragedy occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough time to get to know the primary characters prior to the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch is her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot this was a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime to showing viewers who each family member represents, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat in a genre which frequently presents individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to taking an abrupt turn toward shocking ground. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient time to settle into its world before it gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
This movie also offers a quite interesting explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion which seems to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this affliction has on humans is utterly repulsive, 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 works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of questionable decision-making (like any any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest heavy object is available instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop 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 everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters do show gratitude toward one another seem much more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message regarding relatives or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. But they're effective scares, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining
