Typically, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels largely exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
Among the film's strongest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It begins with a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle plows into the seating section. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe this household before the disaster struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough opportunity to get to know the primary personalities prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably caused a falling out between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. The family head is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who seems focused on only two things: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot this was a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed the audience to connect with the characters enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat for this style that often presents characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a real surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before taking an abrupt shift into "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough time to settle into the setting before everything gets upended.
Original Infection Source
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the impact this condition produces on people proves utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and they're practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
Even better than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some examples of questionable decision-making (as in typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another feel much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly delivering frights. Yet these are effective scares, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining
