For the most part, I've grown tired of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels largely depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved quite entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Character Development
Among the film's greatest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins with a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family party is violently disrupted when a vehicle plows into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to see the family before the disaster struck.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and he loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family head is Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so invested in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime depicting us who each family member is, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style that often presents individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to taking a sudden shift into shocking territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough time to immerse in its world prior to it gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
This movie additionally presents a quite interesting explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the impact this affliction has on humans proves utterly disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and they're practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
Even better than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some instances of dubious decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals express appreciation for each other seem far more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. Yet these are effective scares, and because the film gives each character enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining
