Typically, I've grown tired of zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category seems largely exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Character Development
Among this movie's greatest assets is its excellent pacing. It begins using a striking opening sequence in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a van crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe the family prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough opportunity to get to know the primary personalities before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. This has predictably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and he loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household head consists of her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who seems focused on only two things: his business and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so invested with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime to showing us who each family member represents, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled the audience to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently presents individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, so it's a genuine shock once events eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to taking an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" ground. These early moments don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
The film also offers a quite interesting reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this affliction produces on humans is utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and are almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of questionable decision-making (as in any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available rather than freezing like prey in headlights as death nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another seem far more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're successful scares, and since the film gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and entertaining
