Typically, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved quite entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Personal Growth
Among this movie's greatest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It begins using a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to see this household before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough opportunity to get to know the primary characters before the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has understandably led to a falling out among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues and their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked this was a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every relative represents, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits enabled me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently introduces individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to devour, so it's a genuine surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy before taking an abrupt shift toward shocking ground. These early moments don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient time to settle into its world prior to it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
This movie also offers a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although we do learn 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 creating a lethal elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of background, the effect this condition produces on humans proves absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and are practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of dubious choices (as in any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to kick an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another feel far more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're effective frights, and since the film allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
