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, the genre seems mostly depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Character Growth
One of the film's greatest assets lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence where a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to see this household prior to the disaster struck.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough opportunity to get to know the primary personalities prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has understandably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but socially awkward, and who loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. The family head consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so invested in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime to showing us the identity of every relative is, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities allowed the audience to relate with the characters enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently introduces characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, so it's a real surprise when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before taking a sudden shift toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to settle into its world before it gets upended.
Original Infection Origin
This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a new batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this affliction has on humans is utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and they're almost certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of questionable decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available instead of standing still like prey caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes is not perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters express appreciation for each other feel far more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message about family or society, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. But they're successful frights, and because the movie gives each character enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
