Generally speaking, I've grown tired of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels mostly depleted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, the platform's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Character Development
One of the film's greatest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering is violently interrupted by a van plows into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense scene is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household before the disaster struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know its main personalities prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. This has predictably led to a rift between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and who loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so invested with this household's issues and their personal conflicts that I almost forgot this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime to showing us who each relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing traits allowed me to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise once events eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and various household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama with slightly dark humor prior to taking an abrupt shift into shocking ground. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
This movie additionally presents a quite intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited context, the impact this affliction has on people proves utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and they're practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
Even better than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are a few instances of dubious decision-making (like any typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available rather than freezing like prey in headlights while danger approaches.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains clinging to bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters express gratitude toward one another feel much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight about family or society, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are successful frights, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is an engaging and enjoyable
