Typically, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out quite entertaining.
Superb Rhythm and Personal Development
Among this movie's strongest strengths is its excellent pacing. It kicks off with a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family before the disaster struck.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough time to get to know the primary characters prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family head consists of her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so invested in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed the audience to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently presents individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise once events eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to making a sudden shift into shocking territory. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to settle into its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Origin
This movie also offers a quite intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the impact this condition produces on humans proves absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and are almost certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are a few examples of dubious choices (as in typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available instead of freezing like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives 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 over the phone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals express gratitude toward one another seem much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're effective scares, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
