Typically, I'm over undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Growth
Among this movie's greatest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It begins using a memorable initial scene where a calm family gathering is violently disrupted when a van crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family before the disaster occurred.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary characters before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has predictably caused a rift among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and he loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family head consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so invested in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of the film to showing us the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a real shock when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to taking a sudden turn into shocking ground. These early scenes aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Origin
The film additionally presents a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a new batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the movie had spent additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this condition produces on humans proves absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and are practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of dubious choices (as in any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object they find instead of standing still like prey in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation 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 frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters express appreciation for each other feel much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight about family or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're effective scares, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining
