For the most part, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category seems largely depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Development
Among this movie's greatest assets is its excellent pacing. It kicks off using a memorable opening sequence where a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family before the disaster struck.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient time to get to know its main characters before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. This household patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film to showing viewers the identity of every family member represents, and how they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often presents characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a real shock when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to making an abrupt turn into "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
The film also offers a quite interesting reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the movie devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the impact this affliction has on humans is absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and are practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of dubious decision-making (as in typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than freezing like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters express gratitude toward one another seem much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight about family or community, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're effective frights, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome proves a captivating and enjoyable
