For the most part, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels largely depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Growth
One of the film's strongest assets is its excellent pacing. It begins with a striking initial scene where a calm family gathering is violently interrupted when a van crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to see this household before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. This household patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his business and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so invested with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of the film to showing viewers who each relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently presents characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a real shock when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy before making an abrupt shift into "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to immerse in the setting before it gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
This movie additionally presents a quite intriguing reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the impact this condition has on humans is utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and are almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
Even better compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of questionable decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available rather than freezing like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters do show appreciation toward one another seem much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message about family or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. Yet these are effective frights, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable
