For the most part, I'm over undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems mostly depleted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Character Development
Among the film's greatest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins with a memorable initial scene where a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to see the family before the disaster struck.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient time to get to know the primary characters before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household head consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked this was a horror film—which might seem like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime to showing us who each relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities enabled the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare feat for this style that often introduces individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a real shock when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy prior to making an abrupt shift into shocking ground. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to settle into its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of background, the effect this condition produces on humans is absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some examples of questionable decision-making (as in any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find instead of standing still like prey in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby spot. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes those instances when these characters do show appreciation for each other seem much more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message about family or community, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are effective frights, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable