Generally speaking, I'm over undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Personal Growth
Among this movie's strongest strengths is its excellent rhythm. It begins with a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a van crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to see this household before the disaster occurred.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough opportunity to get to know the primary characters prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has predictably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of the film to showing us the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often introduces characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a real surprise once events finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy before taking a sudden turn toward "holy shit" territory. These early scenes aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to immerse in the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
The film also offers a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the movie had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited background, the impact this condition has on people is utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
Even better than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of questionable choices (like any any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with the nearest heavy object is available rather than standing still like prey in headlights while danger approaches.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming 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 all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude for each other feel much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message about family or community, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. 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 proves a captivating and enjoyable
