Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out quite enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Growth
Among this movie's strongest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off with a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family party is violently disrupted by a van crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then followed by a look back, allowing us to observe this household before the tragedy struck.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know its main personalities before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has predictably caused a rift among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. This household patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to relate to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a real shock once events finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy prior to taking a sudden shift toward shocking territory. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Origin
This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided something regarding how it started, I wish the movie devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the impact this condition has on humans proves utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and are almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
Even better than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of questionable decision-making (as in typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like prey caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals express gratitude toward one another feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message about family or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful scares, and because the film allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and entertaining
