Typically, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems largely exhausted nowadays. Yet 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 subvert my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Development
Among the film's greatest assets is its superb pacing. It begins with a striking initial scene where a peaceful family party is violently disrupted when a vehicle plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family before the disaster occurred.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and who enjoys gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. The family head consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he seems focused on just two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film depicting viewers who each relative is, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a genuine shock when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor before taking a sudden shift into "holy shit" ground. These early scenes don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient time to immerse in its world prior to it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie also offers a fairly interesting reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the impact this condition has on humans is utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and are practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
Even better compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of dubious choices (as in typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find rather than freezing like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals express gratitude for each other feel far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're effective frights, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining
