For the most part, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems mostly depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Development
One of the film's strongest strengths is its excellent pacing. It begins with a memorable opening sequence in which a peaceful family party is violently interrupted by a van plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family prior to the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has understandably led to a rift between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. The family patriarch is her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film depicting viewers who each relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities allowed the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine shock when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to making a sudden turn into shocking territory. These early scenes don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to immerse in the setting before everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Origin
The film also offers a quite intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While we do learn something regarding how it started, I wish the movie devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the effect this condition produces on humans proves utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and they're almost certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some instances of questionable choices (like any any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find rather than freezing like prey in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, this proved a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto 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. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals express gratitude for each other seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. But they're effective frights, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining