For the most part, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category seems mostly depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
One of this movie's strongest strengths is its excellent pacing. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence where a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle plows into the seating section. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe this household before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know its main characters before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably caused a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and he loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so invested with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often introduces characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, so it's a genuine shock when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy prior to taking an abrupt shift into "holy shit" territory. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to settle into its world before everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the impact this condition has on humans proves utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and are practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are a few instances of dubious decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger approaches.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, which was a welcome realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude for each other feel far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message regarding relatives or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. But they're successful frights, and because the movie gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable
