Generally speaking, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Development
Among this movie's strongest assets is its superb pacing. It begins with a striking opening sequence where a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges and begins attacking the attendees. This intense moment is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family before the tragedy struck.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. This has understandably caused a rift among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. This household patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on only two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so invested with this household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime to showing us who each relative represents, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, so it's a real surprise when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy prior to making a sudden shift toward shocking territory. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to settle into the setting before everything gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
This movie also offers a quite interesting reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While we do learn something regarding how it started, 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 creating a lethal potion which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited context, the impact this affliction produces on humans proves absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and are practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
Even better compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of questionable decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find rather than standing still like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, which was a welcome authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters do show appreciation for each other seem much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight about family or society, as well. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are successful frights, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
