Typically, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels mostly depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. However, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out quite enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Growth
One of this movie's greatest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It begins using a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense moment is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household before the disaster struck.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know its main characters prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. The family head consists of her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film to showing us the identity of every family member is, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits allowed the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine shock once events finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a K-Drama with slightly dark humor prior to making a sudden turn toward shocking territory. These early moments don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough time to settle into the setting before it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
This movie also offers a quite interesting explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the movie had spent additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited background, the effect this condition produces on humans proves utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and they're practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some examples of dubious decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes is not perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals express gratitude for each other feel far more sincere.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're effective scares, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
