Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems largely exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. However, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated turning out quite entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
One of the film's strongest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off using a memorable opening sequence where a peaceful family party is violently interrupted by a van plows into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the tragedy struck.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough time to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift between the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and who enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. The family head is her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two aspects: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I almost forgot this was a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film to showing us the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled me to connect with the characters enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat for this style which frequently presents characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and various family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor before making an abrupt shift toward shocking territory. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to settle into the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Origin
The film also offers a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the film devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of context, the impact this condition has on humans proves utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some examples of dubious choices (as in typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available instead of standing still like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals express appreciation toward one another feel far more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message about family or community, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're successful frights, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining
