For the most part, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category seems mostly depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Personal Development
One of the film's greatest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a striking initial scene where a peaceful family party is violently interrupted when a van crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family prior to the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know its main characters before the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime depicting us who each relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat in a genre that often presents individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and various family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy prior to making a sudden turn toward shocking territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives enough opportunity to immerse in its world prior to everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Origin
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the movie devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of background, the effect this affliction has on humans is utterly disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and are practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
Even better than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of questionable decision-making (as in any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger approaches.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another feel much more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're effective frights, and since the film allows every personality enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is an engaging and entertaining
