Typically, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems largely exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth
One of this movie's greatest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It kicks off using a striking initial scene in which a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to see the family prior to the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with the primary characters before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has understandably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on just two things: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of the film depicting viewers who each relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often presents characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real shock when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before taking a sudden shift into "holy shit" ground. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to settle into its world before everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Origin
The film also offers a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the movie had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited background, the impact this affliction has on humans proves utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and are practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
Even better compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of dubious decision-making (as in typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than freezing like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when 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 is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude for each other seem much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message about family or society, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're effective scares, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
