For the most part, I'm over zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels mostly depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Superb Rhythm and Personal Growth
One of the film's strongest assets is its excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted when a van crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is then followed by a look back, allowing us to see the family prior to the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient time to get to know its main characters before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has predictably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household head is her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he seems focused on only two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot I was watching a horror film—which might sound like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film to showing viewers who each family member is, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled me to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently presents characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a genuine shock when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before making an abrupt shift into "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the movie devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited context, the impact this condition produces on humans proves utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite convincing, and they're practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of questionable decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object they find instead of standing still like prey in headlights while danger approaches.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters express appreciation for each other seem far more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're successful frights, and since the film gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining
