Generally speaking, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems largely depleted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Character Development
One of the film's greatest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family before the disaster struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough time to become acquainted with the primary characters prior to the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and who loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. This household patriarch is her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so invested with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot this was a horror film—which might seem like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film to showing viewers who each family member represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare feat in a genre that often introduces characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise once events eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama with slightly dark humor before taking a sudden shift into "holy shit" ground. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to immerse in the setting before everything gets upended.
Original Infection Origin
This movie also offers a quite intriguing reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the movie had spent additional time on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir which seems to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this condition has on humans proves utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and they're almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
Even better than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of questionable decision-making (as in any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters do show appreciation for each other seem far more genuine.
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 some profound insight regarding relatives or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're successful scares, and because the movie gives each character enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable
