Generally speaking, 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 enjoyable, this category feels largely exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. However, the platform's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
Among the film's strongest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted when a vehicle plows into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger emerges and begins attacking the attendees. This intense moment is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. This household patriarch is her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked this was a horror film—which might sound like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every relative represents, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities enabled me to relate with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, so it's a real surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy before taking an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough time to immerse in its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Origin
The film also offers a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this affliction produces on humans is utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and they're practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of questionable decision-making (like any typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of freezing like a deer in headlights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know 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 relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals express gratitude for each other feel far more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight about family or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're effective frights, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
