Typically, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems largely exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Development
One of the film's greatest strengths is its excellent pacing. It begins using a memorable opening sequence in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household prior to the disaster occurred.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough opportunity to get to know the primary personalities prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably led to a rift among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. The family head is Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot I was watching a horror film—something that could sound like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film to showing viewers who each relative represents, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled the audience to relate with the characters enough to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon feat in a genre that often introduces individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, so it's a real surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to making a sudden turn into shocking ground. These early moments don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to settle into the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
The film also offers a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the movie had spent a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this condition produces on people is absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and are practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
More impressive than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of dubious decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, which was a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances where these individuals express gratitude toward one another seem far more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're effective frights, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining
