Generally speaking, I've had my fill of undead films. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems mostly depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth
Among the film's strongest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off using a striking initial scene where a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family prior to the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably caused a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. This household patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot I was watching a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of the film depicting us who each relative represents, and how they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare feat for this style that often introduces individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, so it's a real shock once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor before taking an abrupt shift into shocking ground. These early scenes don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to immerse in the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Origin
This movie additionally presents a quite interesting explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the movie had spent additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this condition has on people proves absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of dubious decision-making (like any typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes those instances when these characters do show gratitude toward one another feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. Yet these are successful scares, and since the film allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
