Typically, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Development
Among this movie's greatest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It begins with a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to see this household prior to the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives viewers sufficient time to get to know its main characters prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. This has understandably caused a falling out among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household head consists of her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two aspects: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of the film depicting viewers the identity of every relative represents, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a real shock when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke 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 introductory moments don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting before everything gets upended.
Original Infection Source
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this condition has on humans is utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and they're practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
Even better than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of dubious choices (like any typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find instead of freezing like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they decide over the phone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters express appreciation for each other seem far more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're effective frights, and because the film allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining
