Generally speaking, I've grown tired of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems mostly depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Superb Rhythm and Character Development
Among the film's strongest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It begins with a striking initial scene where a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a van crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This intense moment is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to see this household prior to the tragedy struck.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary personalities prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably caused a rift among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a well-known herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot this was a horror film—which might seem like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits enabled the audience to connect with the characters enough to care about their outcome—a rare feat for this style that often presents characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a real surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to making a sudden shift into "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient time to immerse in the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Origin
This movie additionally presents a quite intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly potion that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this condition produces on humans is absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and they're practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some instances of dubious choices (as in typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find rather than freezing like prey in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, which was a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for 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. When the family becomes split up, they decide over the phone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation for each other feel much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message about family or society, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are successful scares, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable
