Generally speaking, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems largely depleted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth
One of this movie's greatest strengths is its excellent pacing. It begins with a striking initial scene where a peaceful family gathering is violently interrupted by a vehicle plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking individual emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see this household before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has predictably caused a rift among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. The family head is Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so invested with this household's issues and their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot I was watching a horror film—which might sound like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of the film depicting us the identity of every relative is, and how they add to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy prior to taking a sudden turn toward "holy shit" territory. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough time to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Original Infection Source
This movie additionally presents a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the film had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly potion which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this affliction produces on humans proves utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and are practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of dubious decision-making (like any typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters express gratitude toward one another seem much more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're successful scares, and because the film gives each character enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and enjoyable
