Generally speaking, I've grown tired of undead films. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved quite entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Development
Among this movie's greatest assets lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence where a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a van plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family before the tragedy struck.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough time to become acquainted with its main characters before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but socially awkward, and who loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. This household head is her dad, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could sound like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of the film depicting us who each relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits allowed me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often introduces individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a real shock when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a K-Drama with slightly dark humor before taking a sudden shift toward "holy shit" territory. These early moments aren't centered as much on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient time to settle into the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
The film also offers a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the film devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion which seems to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this condition produces on humans proves absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
Even better compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of dubious choices (as in any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find instead of standing still like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters do show gratitude toward one another seem far more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight about family or community, as well. Rather, it's primarily serving up frights. But they're successful frights, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
