For the most part, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. However, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Character Growth
Among this movie's strongest assets is its excellent pacing. It begins using a memorable initial scene in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a van plows into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family prior to the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary characters prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. This has understandably caused a rift between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and he loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. This household head is Nes' father, who runs a well-known herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film depicting viewers who each family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style which frequently introduces characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to devour, so it's a genuine surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy before taking a sudden shift into "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to settle into the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly potion that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of context, the impact this condition produces on people proves utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and they're practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of dubious decision-making (like any any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find instead of freezing like prey caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals express appreciation for each other feel much more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are effective scares, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
