For the most part, I've grown tired of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Development
Among the film's strongest strengths is its excellent pacing. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to see this household prior to the tragedy occurred.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has understandably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so invested with this household's issues and their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every family member represents, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a real shock when things finally 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 Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before taking an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" ground. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to settle into its world before it gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Origin
The film also offers a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of background, the impact this condition produces on humans is absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and are almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some examples of questionable choices (like any any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find instead of standing still like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters express gratitude toward one another seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering frights. But they're successful frights, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
