For the most part, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels largely depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth
One of this movie's greatest assets lies in the superb pacing. It begins using a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a van crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe this household before the tragedy struck.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough time to get to know the primary characters prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and he loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. The family head is her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled me to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat for this style which frequently introduces individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, so it's a genuine shock when things eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy before making a sudden shift into "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives enough opportunity to immerse in the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Source
The film additionally presents a quite intriguing reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of background, the effect this affliction has on humans proves absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of questionable decision-making (as in any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes those instances when these characters express appreciation toward one another feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are effective scares, and because the film allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining
