Generally speaking, 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, the genre seems largely depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out quite entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Character Growth
Among the film's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence where a calm family gathering is violently disrupted by a van crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the tragedy struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose former close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. The family head consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked this was a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime to showing viewers who each relative is, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits allowed me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, so it's a real surprise once events eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to taking a sudden shift into shocking ground. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient time to immerse in its world prior to everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Origin
The film also offers a quite interesting reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the film devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the impact this affliction has on people is utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of questionable decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object they find rather than freezing like prey in headlights while danger nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, which was a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation for each other seem far more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight about family or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're successful frights, and because the film allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
