Generally speaking, I've grown tired of undead films. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Character Development
Among this movie's greatest assets is its superb rhythm. It kicks off with a striking initial scene in which a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family before the disaster occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough time to get to know its main personalities prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household head is Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on only two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked this was a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime depicting us who each relative represents, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed me to connect to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare feat for this style which frequently introduces characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a real surprise once events finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor before taking a sudden turn into "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to settle into the setting before everything gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
This movie also offers a quite interesting reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the movie devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of background, the impact this condition produces on humans proves absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and are practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are a few examples of questionable choices (as in typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude for each other seem much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or community, as well. Rather, it's primarily delivering frights. But they're effective frights, and since the film allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and entertaining
