For the most part, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category feels mostly depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Character Growth
Among this movie's greatest assets is its superb pacing. It begins with a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges and begins attacking the attendees. This intense scene is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to see this household prior to the tragedy struck.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough time to get to know the primary characters before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has predictably caused a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. The family patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely tense.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues and their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might sound like a negative, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of the film to showing us who each family member represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled me to connect with the characters enough to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre that often introduces characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a genuine shock once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy before making a sudden shift into shocking ground. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough time to settle into its world before it gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this condition has on humans proves utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some instances of questionable choices (like any any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find rather than freezing like prey in headlights while danger nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude for each other feel far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight about family or community, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're effective frights, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining
