Generally speaking, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Growth
One of this movie's greatest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence where a calm family party is violently interrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household before the disaster struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough time to get to know the primary personalities before the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has understandably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. This household head is her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I almost forgot this was a horror film—which might sound like a negative, but in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of the film to showing us who each relative is, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled me to relate with the characters enough to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often introduces characters just to kill them off 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 shock when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to making a sudden turn toward "holy shit" territory. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to settle into its world before it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the movie had spent additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this condition has on humans is absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
More impressive compared to the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some instances of questionable decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like prey in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby spot. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters do show gratitude toward one another seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight about family or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're effective scares, and because the film gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable
