For the most part, I've had my fill of undead films. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels largely depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 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 my expectations and proved quite entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Growth
Among this movie's strongest assets lies in the superb pacing. It begins using a striking initial scene where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to see this household before the disaster struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know its main characters prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose former close friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has understandably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. The family head consists of her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot this was a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime to showing viewers who each family member represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities allowed the audience to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat for this style which frequently introduces individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to taking a sudden turn into "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to settle into the setting before it gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Source
The film also offers a quite interesting reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a lethal potion that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited background, the effect this condition has on humans proves utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and they're almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some examples of questionable choices (like any any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available rather than standing still like prey caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, which was a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—seem authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters do show gratitude toward one another feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are successful frights, and since the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable
