Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels largely exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Growth
Among the film's greatest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins using a memorable initial scene where a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This intense scene is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family before the disaster occurred.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough time to become acquainted with the primary characters before the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose ex close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch is her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on only two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so invested with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, but in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of the film depicting viewers the identity of every family member is, and how they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on clashing personalities allowed me to relate to the personalities enough to care about their fate—an uncommon feat for this style which frequently presents characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, so it's a genuine shock once events eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to taking an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this affliction produces on people is absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and they're practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
Even better than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of questionable decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals express appreciation for each other feel much more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're effective frights, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
