For the most part, I've had my fill of undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth
Among this movie's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It begins using a striking opening sequence where a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household prior to the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know its main characters before the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. This household head consists of her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues and their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime depicting viewers who each relative is, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed me to relate to the personalities enough to care about their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently presents characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, so it's a genuine surprise once events finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and various family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor before making a sudden turn toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives enough opportunity to settle into the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
This movie also offers a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited background, the impact this affliction has on humans proves utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and are almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of dubious decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, which was a welcome authentic 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 often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals express appreciation for each other feel much more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message about family or community, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. Yet these are effective scares, and because the film allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable
