For the most part, I've had my fill of undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels largely depleted at this point. 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, managed to subvert my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Personal Development
One of the film's greatest assets lies in the superb pacing. It begins using a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering is violently interrupted when a vehicle plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking stranger emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see this household prior to the tragedy occurred.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough time to get to know the primary characters before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has predictably led to a falling out among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on only two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a negative, but in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime depicting viewers who each family member represents, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits enabled the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a real shock when things eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor before taking a sudden shift toward shocking territory. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting before it gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Origin
This movie additionally presents a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the movie had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of 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 is a daring choice, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and are almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of dubious choices (as in any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like prey in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation for each other feel far more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message about family or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are effective frights, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
