Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems largely exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Character Growth
One of the film's strongest strengths is its excellent pacing. It kicks off with a striking initial scene in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family prior to the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has predictably caused a falling out between the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and who loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on only two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is extremely strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so engrossed in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film to showing us the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities allowed the audience to connect to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style that often presents characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a real shock once events finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before taking a sudden turn toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world before it gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Source
The film additionally presents a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this condition has on people proves absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring decision, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and are practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some examples of dubious choices (as in any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals express appreciation for each other feel far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message about family or society, as well. Rather, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are effective frights, and since the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable
