Typically, I've grown tired of zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels largely depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Character Development
One of this movie's greatest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It begins using a striking initial scene where a peaceful family party is violently interrupted when a van plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to see this household prior to the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough time to get to know the primary personalities before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has understandably caused a rift among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and he enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. This household head is her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two things: his business and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so invested with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might sound like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every relative represents, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed me to relate with the characters enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat in a genre that often introduces characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, so it's a real shock when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama with slightly dark humor before making a sudden turn toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives enough opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to it gets upended.
Original Infection Origin
The film also offers a quite intriguing reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the impact this affliction produces on people is absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring decision, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and they're almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of dubious decision-making (like any typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find rather than freezing like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push 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 genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight about family or community, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're successful scares, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining
