For the most part, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems largely depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Personal Development
Among this movie's greatest strengths is its excellent pacing. It kicks off using a memorable opening sequence where a calm family party is violently interrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to observe this household prior to the disaster struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough time to get to know the primary characters before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has predictably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and he loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family head is her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on just two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime depicting viewers who each family member represents, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits allowed me to relate to the personalities enough to care about their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre that often presents individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with slightly dark humor prior to making an abrupt turn into shocking ground. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough time to settle into its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
This movie also offers a fairly interesting reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly potion which seems to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the impact this condition produces on humans proves utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
Even better compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of dubious choices (as in typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude for each other seem much more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're effective frights, and since the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
