Typically, I've grown tired of undead films. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems largely depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. However, the platform's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Character Development
Among this movie's greatest strengths is its excellent pacing. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is then followed by a look back, allowing us to see this household prior to the tragedy struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient time to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. The family head consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he seems focused on only two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film to showing us the identity of every family member represents, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities enabled the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare feat for this style that often presents individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, so it's a genuine surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and various household exchanges actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor before taking a sudden turn into shocking territory. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient time to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
This movie additionally presents a quite interesting reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the movie had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect this affliction has on humans is absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and are almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of questionable choices (as in typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like a deer in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another feel far more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up frights. But they're effective scares, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and entertaining
