For the most part, I'm over zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. However, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Growth
One of the film's strongest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family party is violently disrupted by a vehicle plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to see this household before the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know its main personalities before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and who loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. This household head consists of her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on only two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film depicting us the identity of every family member is, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled me to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat in a genre which frequently introduces individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine shock once events eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to taking an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" ground. These early scenes aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to immerse in its world prior to it gets upended.
Unique Infection Origin
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited background, the effect this condition produces on humans proves absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and they're almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of dubious choices (as in any good zombie movie), but for the most part, 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 heavy object they find rather than freezing like prey in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude for each other feel far more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are successful scares, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable
