Generally speaking, I've had my fill of undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels largely exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated turning out quite enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth
One of this movie's strongest assets is its superb pacing. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering is violently interrupted by a vehicle plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to see this household prior to the tragedy struck.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with the primary characters before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family head is Nes' father, the owner of a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on only two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot this was a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film to showing us the identity of every relative represents, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities enabled me to connect with the characters enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently introduces individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, so it's a genuine shock when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy before making an abrupt turn into "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world prior to it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
The film also offers a quite interesting reason for the source of the spreading transformation. 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. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the movie devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the impact this condition has on humans is absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and they're practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
Even better than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of dubious decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object they find instead of freezing like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters express gratitude for each other feel far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message about family or society, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're successful scares, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
