Typically, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels largely depleted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Development
Among the film's strongest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence where a calm family gathering is violently disrupted by a vehicle plows into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family before the disaster occurred.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary characters before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and he loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. This household patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film to showing us the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on clashing personalities allowed me to connect with the characters enough to care about their outcome—a rare feat for this style which frequently presents individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a real surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before making a sudden shift into "holy shit" ground. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to immerse in its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly potion that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the effect this condition has on humans proves utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and they're almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of dubious decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available rather than freezing like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, which was a pleasantly authentic subversion 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 apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals express appreciation for each other feel far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. But they're effective scares, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
