Generally speaking, 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 gripping, this category feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for months. However, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Superb Rhythm and Character Development
One of the film's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off using a striking initial scene in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe this household prior to the tragedy struck.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary characters before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has understandably caused a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch is her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the household's issues and their personal conflicts that I almost forgot I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film depicting us the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing traits allowed the audience to connect with the characters enough to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often presents characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine surprise when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to taking a sudden shift into "holy shit" ground. These early scenes aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient time to immerse in the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Origin
This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While some background is provided something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this affliction has on people proves utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and are almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
More impressive compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of dubious decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available rather than freezing like prey in headlights as death approaches.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation for each other seem much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are effective scares, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and entertaining
