For the most part, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels largely depleted at this point. Even 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 defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
Among this movie's strongest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It begins with a memorable opening sequence in which a peaceful family party is violently interrupted when a vehicle plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking stranger emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every relative represents, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities enabled the audience to relate to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently presents individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a real shock when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to making an abrupt shift into "holy shit" ground. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to settle into the setting before it gets upended.
Original Infection Source
The film also offers a quite intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent additional time on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of background, the impact this affliction produces on people proves absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and are almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
More impressive than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some examples of dubious decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object is available instead of freezing like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are successful frights, and since the movie gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and enjoyable
