Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Development
One of the film's strongest strengths is its excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a striking initial scene where a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted by a van crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family before the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough time to get to know its main personalities before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has understandably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. The family patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on just two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare feat in a genre that often presents individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, so it's a genuine surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to making a sudden turn into "holy shit" ground. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to settle into the setting before everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Origin
The film additionally presents a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the film had spent additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited background, the impact this condition has on humans is utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
Even better compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of dubious decision-making (like any any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also 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 they find instead of freezing like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion 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 films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they decide over the phone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters express appreciation for each other feel far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering frights. Yet these are effective frights, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and entertaining
