For the most part, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems mostly exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
One of the film's strongest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins with a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering is violently interrupted when a vehicle plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see this household prior to the disaster struck.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has understandably caused a rift between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family head is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot this was a horror film—which might sound like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of the film depicting viewers the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled the audience to relate to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often presents characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy before making an abrupt turn toward shocking ground. These early moments don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
The film also offers a quite interesting reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the movie devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this condition has on humans proves absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are a few instances of questionable choices (like any typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find rather than standing still like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation for each other feel far more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are effective scares, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
