For the most part, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems largely exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. However, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Personal Development
One of the film's strongest strengths is its superb pacing. It begins with a memorable initial scene where a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted when a van plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then followed by a look back, allowing us to see the family prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough time to get to know its main characters prior to the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. The family patriarch is her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became 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 sound like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film to showing us the identity of every family member represents, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits allowed the audience to connect to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often presents individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, so it's a real shock once events finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and various family interactions actually evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor before making an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" ground. These early moments aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough time to immerse in its world before everything gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
The film also offers a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect this condition produces on people proves absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and are almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
Even better compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of dubious decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available rather than freezing like prey in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from the "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. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters do show appreciation for each other feel much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight about family or community, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering frights. But they're effective scares, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is an engaging and enjoyable
