For the most part, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, the platform's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
One of this movie's greatest strengths is its excellent pacing. It kicks off with a striking initial scene where a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted by a van crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense moment is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see this household before the disaster struck.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough time to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on just two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is extremely strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed the audience to connect with the characters enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, so it's a real surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy before making a sudden turn toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to settle into the setting prior to it gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the film had spent a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a lethal potion which seems to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the effect this condition produces on people proves utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and they're almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of dubious decision-making (like any typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find instead of standing still like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, this proved a welcome realistic deviation 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 apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters express gratitude for each other feel far more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight about family or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful frights, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and entertaining
