For the most part, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category seems largely depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 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 subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth
Among the film's greatest assets lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe this household prior to the tragedy struck.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough opportunity to get to know its main personalities before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and who loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. This household head is Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed with this household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked this was a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film depicting us the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits enabled the audience to connect with the characters enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to taking a sudden shift toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Original Infection Origin
This movie additionally presents a quite interesting explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited background, the effect this affliction produces on people is absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and are practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of dubious choices (as in any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find instead of freezing like prey in headlights as death nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from that "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. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another seem much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are effective frights, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
