For the most part, I'm over undead films. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth
Among this movie's strongest assets is its excellent pacing. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to observe the family prior to the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient time to get to know its main personalities prior to the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. This has understandably caused a rift between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family head is Nes' father, the owner of a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on only two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so invested in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked this was a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film to showing viewers the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed me to relate with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently presents individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine surprise once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a story that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to taking an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" ground. These early scenes don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to immerse in its world before it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease originates in a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the movie had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir which seems to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this affliction has on people proves absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are a few examples of dubious choices (like any typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation 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 avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals express gratitude for each other feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight about family or community, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. Yet these are successful scares, and because the film gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and enjoyable
