Typically, I've grown tired of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category feels mostly depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. However, the platform's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Character Development
One of this movie's greatest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This intense moment is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to see this household before the tragedy struck.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with its main characters before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out between the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. The family head is Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on only two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues and their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film depicting us who each family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits enabled the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare feat in a genre which frequently presents individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a genuine shock once events eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to taking a sudden shift toward shocking ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient time to settle into the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Source
The film additionally presents a quite interesting explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this condition has on people is absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and are practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of dubious decision-making (as in typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, which was a pleasantly authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close location. But when Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters express appreciation for each other feel far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message about family or community, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful scares, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
