Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Rhythm and Personal Development
Among this movie's greatest assets is its superb rhythm. It begins with a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a van plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family prior to the tragedy occurred.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough time to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has understandably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. This household head consists of Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so invested with this household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot this was a horror film—which might sound like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of the film to showing us the identity of every family member is, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled me to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style that often presents characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a real surprise when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to making an abrupt shift into "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Origin
This movie additionally presents a quite intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly potion that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the impact this affliction has on people is absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and they're practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of questionable decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, this proved a welcome authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters express gratitude for each other feel much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're successful frights, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and entertaining
