Generally speaking, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category feels mostly depleted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Character Development
One of this movie's greatest strengths is its excellent pacing. It begins with a memorable opening sequence where a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives viewers sufficient time to become acquainted with the primary characters before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. This has understandably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household head consists of her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of the film to showing us who each relative represents, and how they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to connect with the characters enough to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often presents characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, so it's a real shock once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to making an abrupt shift into shocking ground. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to immerse in its world prior to everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Origin
This movie also offers a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the film devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to producing a lethal potion that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this condition has on people is absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are a few examples of questionable choices (as in typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find rather than freezing like a deer in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict once individuals begin transforming into zombies, this proved a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude for each other seem far more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message about family or community, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're successful frights, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and entertaining
