Typically, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although 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 highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth
Among this movie's strongest strengths is its superb rhythm. It begins with a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a van crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe this household prior to the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary characters prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and who enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. This household patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot this was a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of the film depicting viewers the identity of every relative is, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before taking a sudden shift into "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives enough time to settle into its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Origin
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease originates in a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this affliction has on people proves utterly disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and are almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
More impressive than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some examples of questionable decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, 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 over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters do show gratitude for each other seem much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message about family or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful frights, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and entertaining
