For the most part, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems largely exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Development
One of the film's strongest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence where a calm family gathering is violently interrupted by a vehicle plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family before the tragedy struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary characters before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has predictably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and who loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. This household head consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the household's issues and their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime depicting viewers who each family member is, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a real surprise once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy before taking a sudden turn into shocking ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient time to immerse in its world prior to everything gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie also offers a quite interesting explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the film devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of context, the impact this condition has on humans is absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite convincing, and they're practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
Even better than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, there are a few examples of questionable decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals express gratitude for each other feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight about family or community, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are successful frights, and because the film gives each character enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining
