Typically, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems 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, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out quite entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Character Growth
One of the film's strongest strengths is its excellent pacing. It begins with a striking opening sequence where a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe this household before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough time to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. This has understandably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. The family patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of the film to showing viewers who each relative represents, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities allowed me to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare feat for this style which frequently introduces individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a real shock when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and various family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to making a sudden turn toward "holy shit" territory. These early scenes aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to settle into the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Origin
The film additionally presents a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although some background is provided something regarding how it started, I wish the movie devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of background, the effect this condition produces on humans is absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are a few instances of questionable choices (as in any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This makes those instances where these individuals express appreciation toward one another seem much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message about family or community, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. Yet these are successful scares, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is an engaging and entertaining
