For the most part, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.
Superb Rhythm and Character Development
Among the film's greatest strengths is its excellent pacing. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence in which a calm family gathering is violently disrupted by a van crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe the family prior to the tragedy occurred.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so invested in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime depicting us who each family member is, and how they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities allowed the audience to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat for this style that often presents individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, so it's a real shock once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to taking a sudden shift toward shocking ground. These early moments aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting before it gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Source
The film also offers a fairly interesting reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent additional time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited context, the impact this condition produces on people is absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some instances of dubious decision-making (like any typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available instead of standing still like a deer in headlights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another seem much more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
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 message about family or community, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are successful scares, and because the film gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and enjoyable