Typically, I'm over undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 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, managed to subvert my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Character Development
One of the film's strongest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a striking initial scene where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking individual emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense moment is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to see this household before the disaster occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough time to get to know its main personalities before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably caused a falling out among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on just two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of the film depicting viewers the identity of every relative represents, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled the audience to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a real surprise once events eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and various family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor before making an abrupt shift toward shocking ground. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to immerse in its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the movie had spent a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this affliction produces on humans is absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and are almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of dubious decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters do show gratitude toward one another feel much more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are effective scares, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
