Typically, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Superb Rhythm and Character Development
One of the film's strongest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted when a van plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking individual emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see this household before the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough time to become acquainted with its main personalities before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. This has predictably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. The family patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film depicting viewers the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits allowed the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often presents characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a real surprise when things finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before making an abrupt shift into "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to settle into its world prior to everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a new batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the movie had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited background, the impact this affliction produces on humans is utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
Even better compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of questionable decision-making (as in any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find rather than standing still like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, this proved a welcome authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters do show appreciation toward one another seem far more sincere.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message about family or community, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're effective frights, and because the film gives each character enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable
