Typically, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth
Among the film's greatest strengths is its excellent pacing. It begins with a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family party is violently interrupted by a vehicle crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see the family before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household head is her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every family member represents, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits allowed the audience to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently presents characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine shock once events finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and various household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before making an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient time to settle into the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
This movie also offers a fairly interesting explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this condition has on people is utterly disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite convincing, and they're almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of dubious choices (like any any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters do show gratitude for each other feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're successful scares, and since the film allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
