Generally speaking, I've grown tired of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category feels largely depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. However, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Personal Growth
One of this movie's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off using a memorable opening sequence where a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary personalities before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. This has understandably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. This household head is Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime depicting us the identity of every family member represents, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits enabled the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently presents individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to taking a sudden turn into "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough time to settle into its world before it gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the movie had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the impact this condition produces on people proves absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of questionable decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with the nearest heavy object is available rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger approaches.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "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 apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals express appreciation toward one another seem far more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're effective scares, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and enjoyable