Generally speaking, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels largely depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. However, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Growth
One of the film's strongest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It begins using a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see the family prior to the disaster struck.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough time to get to know its main personalities before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and he loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. This household head consists of her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the household's issues and their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked this was a horror film—which might sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every relative is, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon feat for this style that often introduces individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a real surprise when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy before making an abrupt shift toward shocking ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to settle into its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Origin
The film additionally presents a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the movie had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a lethal potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this affliction produces on humans proves utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some instances of dubious choices (like any any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than freezing like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes those instances when these characters express appreciation toward one another feel far more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. But they're successful frights, and because the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves a captivating and enjoyable