For the most part, I've had my fill of undead films. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems mostly exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been 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 and proved quite enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Personal Growth
One of the film's strongest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to see this household before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives viewers sufficient time to become acquainted with the primary characters before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably led to a falling out among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. The family patriarch is her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime to showing us the identity of every family member is, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled the audience to connect to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style which frequently introduces individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine shock when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy before making a sudden turn into "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world before it gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Origin
This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the movie had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this affliction produces on people proves absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
Even better compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of dubious decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object is available instead of standing still like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, this proved a welcome authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters express gratitude toward one another seem far more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight about family or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. But they're effective scares, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and entertaining
