Generally speaking, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated turning out quite enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth
One of the film's strongest strengths is its excellent pacing. It begins using a memorable initial scene in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a van plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household before the tragedy struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know its main personalities before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. The family patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this household's issues and their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot I was watching a horror film—which might sound like a drawback, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of the film to showing viewers the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to relate with the characters enough to care about their outcome—a rare feat for this style which frequently introduces individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a real surprise once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before making an abrupt shift into shocking territory. These early moments aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient time to immerse in its world prior to it gets upended.
Original Zombification Origin
This movie also offers a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the movie devoted additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this affliction has on people is utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some instances of questionable decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. 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 the nearest blunt instrument is available instead of freezing like prey caught in lights while danger approaches.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, which was a welcome authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters do show gratitude for each other feel much more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. But they're effective scares, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
