Generally speaking, I'm over zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems largely exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Character Development
One of the film's greatest assets is its superb pacing. It begins with a memorable initial scene where a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household before the disaster struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and he enjoys gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household head is her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot I was watching a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every relative represents, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities enabled the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real shock when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor before taking a sudden shift toward shocking ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient time to settle into its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a quite interesting reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of background, the impact this condition has on humans is utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of dubious decision-making (as in typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, which was a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters do show gratitude toward one another seem far more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are successful frights, and since the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable
