Generally speaking, I've had my fill of undead films. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. However, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Character Growth
Among this movie's greatest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins using a striking initial scene in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe this household prior to the tragedy struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters prior to the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. The family head consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled the audience to relate with the characters enough to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style that often presents characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, so it's a genuine surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before making a sudden turn toward "holy shit" ground. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient time to immerse in its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Origin
This movie also offers a fairly interesting reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, I wish the film had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this affliction produces on people proves utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and are practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of dubious choices (like any typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find rather than standing still like a deer in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals express gratitude for each other seem far more sincere.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight about family or society, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are effective scares, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable
