For the most part, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems largely exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth
Among this movie's strongest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It begins with a memorable initial scene where a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a van plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to see this household prior to the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough time to get to know its main personalities prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably led to a falling out between the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch is her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who seems focused on only two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so invested with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might sound like a drawback, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of the film to showing viewers the identity of every relative represents, and how they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently introduces characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a real surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor before making an abrupt turn into "holy shit" territory. These early scenes don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to immerse in its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Origin
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding how it started, I wish the movie had spent additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of context, the effect this affliction produces on people is utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
Even better than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of questionable decision-making (as in any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like prey in headlights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people begin transforming to the undead, this proved a welcome authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters do show appreciation toward one another feel much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight about family or community, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are effective scares, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable
