Generally speaking, I'm over zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category seems mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. However, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Superb Rhythm and Character Growth
One of the film's greatest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted by a van crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see the family prior to the tragedy struck.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has predictably caused a rift between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. The family head consists of her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked this was a horror film—which might seem like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film depicting viewers who each family member is, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled me to connect to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style which frequently presents individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to devour, so it's a genuine shock when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to making an abrupt turn into "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough time to immerse in its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
The film also offers a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the film devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this affliction has on people proves absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and they're practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
Even better than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of dubious decision-making (like any any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, which was a welcome 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!" cliché often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters do show gratitude for each other feel far more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're 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
