Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels mostly depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Development
Among the film's greatest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It begins using a memorable opening sequence where a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a van plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to see this household before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary characters prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and he loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. This household head consists of Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of the film depicting us who each relative represents, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled me to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often introduces characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a real surprise when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy before making a sudden turn into shocking territory. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough time to immerse in its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Origin
This movie also offers a fairly interesting explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent additional time on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect this condition produces on humans is utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and are almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
More impressive than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of questionable decision-making (as in any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like prey in headlights while danger approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another seem much more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're successful frights, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves a captivating and enjoyable
