Generally speaking, I'm over zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels mostly depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Character Growth
One of this movie's strongest assets is its superb pacing. It kicks off with a striking initial scene where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to see this household prior to the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives viewers sufficient time to become acquainted with its main personalities before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has predictably caused a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. The family head is her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot this was a horror film—which might sound like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of the film depicting us who each family member represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often presents individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine shock when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before making an abrupt shift toward shocking territory. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives enough opportunity to settle into the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
The film also offers a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly potion that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited background, the effect this condition produces on humans proves absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and they're practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
Even better than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are a few examples of questionable choices (as in typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude for each other seem much more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message about family or society, as well. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're effective frights, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
