Typically, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.
Superb Rhythm and Character Growth
Among the film's greatest assets lies in the superb pacing. It begins using a memorable opening sequence where a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a van plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary characters before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has predictably caused a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. This household head is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so engrossed with this household's issues and their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot this was a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film to showing viewers the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a real surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy before taking a sudden turn toward "holy shit" territory. These early moments aren't centered as much on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to settle into the setting before it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a quite intriguing reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, I wish the movie devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir which seems to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this condition produces on humans proves absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and are practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of questionable decision-making (like any any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find instead of freezing like prey in headlights as death approaches.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals express gratitude toward one another feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. But they're effective scares, and since the film gives each character enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and entertaining
