Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels mostly depleted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Development
One of this movie's greatest assets is its superb pacing. It begins using a memorable opening sequence where a peaceful family party is violently disrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household before the tragedy struck.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough time to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former close friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. This has predictably caused a falling out between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and who enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. This household patriarch is her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so invested in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film depicting viewers the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits enabled the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat for this style that often presents characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine shock once events finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor before taking a sudden shift into "holy shit" territory. These early moments don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
This movie additionally presents a quite intriguing reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this condition has on humans is absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some examples of dubious decision-making (like any any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find instead of freezing like prey in headlights while danger approaches.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—feel authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters express appreciation for each other seem much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message about family or community, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're successful scares, and because the film allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable
