For the most part, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Character Development
One of the film's greatest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene in which a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe this household prior to the tragedy occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. This household head is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime to showing us who each relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities allowed me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare feat in a genre that often presents characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a genuine shock once events eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to taking an abrupt turn toward shocking territory. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world prior to everything gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the film devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of context, the impact this condition has on people proves absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
More impressive than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some examples of dubious decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like a deer in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters express gratitude toward one another feel much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're effective scares, and because the film gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and entertaining
