Generally speaking, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out quite enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth
Among this movie's greatest assets is its superb rhythm. It begins using a memorable opening sequence where a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle plows into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see the family prior to the disaster occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with its main personalities before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has understandably caused a rift between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. The family head consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked this was a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of the film depicting viewers who each family member represents, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled me to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often presents individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real shock once events eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy before taking a sudden shift toward "holy shit" ground. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient time to immerse in its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Source
This movie additionally presents a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease originates in a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this affliction produces on humans is absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and are almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of questionable decision-making (as in typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find rather than freezing like prey in headlights while danger approaches.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another seem far more sincere.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are effective scares, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
