For the most part, I've had my fill of undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels largely depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Growth
One of this movie's greatest strengths is its superb rhythm. It kicks off using a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family party is violently interrupted by a vehicle plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see the family before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know its main personalities prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on just two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so invested with this household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime depicting viewers who each family member represents, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat in a genre that often presents characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real surprise once events eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy before taking a sudden turn toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough time to settle into the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding how it started, I wish the movie had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this condition produces on people proves absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
Even better than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of dubious choices (like any any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument is available instead of freezing like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, which was a pleasantly authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, 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. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters do show gratitude toward one another seem much more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message about family or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're successful frights, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is an engaging and enjoyable
