Typically, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems mostly depleted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, the platform's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Character Development
Among this movie's strongest assets is its superb pacing. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence where a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household prior to the tragedy struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary personalities prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. This has understandably led to a rift between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. The family head consists of Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two things: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of the film depicting viewers who each family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare feat for this style which frequently presents individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a real surprise when things finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor before making a sudden shift toward shocking ground. These early scenes don't focus as much on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient time to settle into its world prior to everything gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
The film also offers a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a new batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this condition has on people proves utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and are practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
Even better than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of questionable decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, stab 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 in headlights while danger approaches.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters do show appreciation toward one another seem much more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're successful frights, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
