For the most part, I've grown tired of undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category seems mostly depleted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Personal Growth
Among the film's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family party is violently interrupted by a vehicle plows into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family before the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough time to become acquainted with its main personalities before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family head is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film depicting us who each family member is, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on clashing personalities allowed me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often presents characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before taking a sudden shift into "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient time to immerse in its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
The film additionally presents a quite interesting explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this condition produces on people is utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and they're practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of dubious decision-making (like any typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument is available instead of freezing like prey caught in lights while danger approaches.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters do show gratitude toward one another feel far more sincere.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are effective scares, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable
