Typically, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category seems mostly depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Growth
One of this movie's greatest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It begins using a striking opening sequence in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows into the seating section. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family before the disaster struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary personalities prior to the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. This has predictably caused a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. This household head consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues and their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked this was a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, but in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime depicting viewers who each relative is, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits enabled the audience to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat for this style that often presents individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise when things finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before taking an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient time to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Original Infection Origin
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this condition produces on humans proves utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and are practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of dubious choices (like any typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like a deer in headlights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters do show gratitude for each other feel much more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are successful frights, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
