Generally speaking, I'm over zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels mostly depleted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Development
One of the film's greatest assets is its superb rhythm. It begins with a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family party is violently interrupted by a vehicle plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see the family prior to the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary characters prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has predictably led to a rift between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. The family head consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film depicting us who each family member is, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a genuine shock once events finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor before making a sudden turn toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient time to immerse in its world before it gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Origin
The film also offers a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie devoted additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited context, the impact this affliction has on humans is absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and are almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of dubious choices (as in typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like prey in headlights as death nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals begin transforming to the undead, this proved a welcome authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—feel authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters do show gratitude for each other seem much more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering frights. Yet these are effective frights, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining
