Generally speaking, I've grown tired of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems largely depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Character Development
Among the film's strongest assets is its excellent pacing. It begins with a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with the primary characters prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has understandably caused a rift between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household head is her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he seems focused on just two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film depicting viewers the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often presents characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, so it's a genuine shock when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to making an abrupt turn into "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives enough opportunity to immerse in its world before it gets upended.
Unique Infection Origin
The film additionally presents a quite interesting reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of background, the impact this condition has on humans is absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and are practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some instances of dubious choices (like any typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available rather than standing still like prey in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another seem much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message about family or society, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. But they're effective scares, and because the film gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining
