Generally speaking, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels mostly depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated turning out quite entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Personal Development
One of this movie's strongest assets is its excellent pacing. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted when a vehicle plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see the family before the tragedy struck.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. The family head consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot this was a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime depicting viewers who each relative is, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits enabled the audience to relate with the characters enough to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat for this style that often introduces characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy prior to making a sudden turn toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Unique Infection Origin
The film also offers a quite intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the film had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the effect this affliction has on people proves utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and they're practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
Even better compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some instances of dubious choices (as in any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object is available instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude for each other seem far more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight about family or community, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. But they're successful scares, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining
