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 gripping, the genre seems mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Character Development
One of this movie's strongest strengths is its excellent rhythm. It begins using a striking initial scene where a peaceful family party is violently disrupted when a van plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This intense moment is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see the family prior to the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know its main personalities before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household head is her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every family member represents, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed the audience to connect with the characters enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat in a genre which frequently presents individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a real surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and various household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy prior to making a sudden shift toward shocking ground. These introductory moments aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough time to settle into the setting before everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
The film additionally presents a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a new batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of background, the effect this condition has on people is absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and are practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of dubious choices (like any typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation for each other seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are successful frights, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable
