Generally speaking, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Character Development
Among this movie's greatest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted by a van plows into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household prior to the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary characters before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. This has predictably led to a rift among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film to showing us the identity of every relative is, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled me to connect to the personalities enough to care about their fate—a rare feat for this style that often presents characters only to kill them off 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 genuine surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to making an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to settle into its world before it gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
The film additionally presents a fairly interesting explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the film devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the effect this affliction has on humans proves absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and are almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of dubious decision-making (as in typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like prey in headlights as death nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals express gratitude toward one another feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight about family or community, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're effective frights, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
