For the most part, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels mostly depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Personal Growth
One of this movie's strongest assets is its excellent rhythm. It begins using a striking initial scene where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household before the disaster occurred.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. This has understandably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. The family head consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so invested with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film depicting us the identity of every relative represents, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits allowed the audience to relate to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently presents individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, so it's a real shock once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and various household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama with slightly dark humor prior to taking an abrupt shift into "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting before everything gets upended.
Original Infection Source
The film additionally presents a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly potion that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited background, the effect this condition produces on humans is absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and are almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of dubious decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike 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 freezing like prey caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals express appreciation for each other feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are successful frights, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining
