For the most part, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out quite enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth
Among this movie's greatest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It begins with a striking initial scene where a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted by a van plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe the family before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know its main personalities before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has predictably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of the film to showing viewers who each relative is, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits allowed me to relate with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often introduces individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a genuine surprise once events finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy prior to making a sudden shift toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to settle into its world before it gets upended.
Unique Infection Origin
This movie also offers a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, I wish the film devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of context, the effect this condition produces on humans is utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of dubious choices (like any typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object is available instead of standing still like prey in headlights while danger nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic 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 express gratitude for each other seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight about family or community, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are effective scares, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable
