For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category feels mostly exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Character Development
Among the film's strongest assets lies in the superb pacing. It begins using a memorable opening sequence in which a peaceful family party is violently interrupted by a van crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household prior to the tragedy struck.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. This household head consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked this was a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime depicting us the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style that often presents individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor before taking an abrupt shift into shocking ground. These early scenes don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives enough opportunity to settle into its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
The film also offers a quite interesting explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the effect this condition has on humans proves absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and are practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of questionable decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find instead of freezing like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, this proved a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals express gratitude for each other feel far more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're successful scares, and since the film allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and enjoyable
