For the most part, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Character Development
Among the film's strongest assets is its excellent pacing. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household prior to the disaster struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient time to become acquainted with its main characters before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has understandably led to a rift among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but socially awkward, and he loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. The family head consists of her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two things: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the household's issues and their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime to showing us who each family member represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often introduces characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real shock when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy before making an abrupt shift toward shocking ground. These early moments aren't centered as much on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives enough opportunity to immerse in the setting before everything gets upended.
Original Infection Origin
This movie also offers a quite interesting reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this condition has on people is absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and are almost certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
Even better than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some instances of questionable choices (like any any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters do show gratitude for each other feel far more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. But they're successful frights, and because the movie gives each character enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable
