Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. However, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Growth
Among this movie's greatest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It begins using a memorable initial scene in which a calm family gathering is violently interrupted by a vehicle plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household prior to the disaster occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with the primary characters prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and who loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. This household head is her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so invested with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film to showing us the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits enabled me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat in a genre that often presents individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise once events finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy before making a sudden shift into "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to settle into the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Original Infection Source
The film also offers a fairly interesting reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although some background is provided something regarding how it started, I wish the movie had spent additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited background, the impact this affliction has on humans proves utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and are practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of questionable decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument is available instead of freezing like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals express appreciation toward one another feel far more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're successful scares, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining
