Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Development
Among the film's strongest strengths is its superb pacing. It begins with a striking opening sequence in which a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle plows into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see this household prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so invested with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot this was a horror film—which might sound like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of the film depicting viewers who each relative represents, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits enabled the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare feat in a genre which frequently presents individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties 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 actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to taking an abrupt shift into "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient time to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Origin
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited context, the impact this condition has on humans is utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
Even better compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of dubious decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like a deer in headlights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals express gratitude for each other seem much more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're effective frights, and since the movie gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable
