Typically, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category seems largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Development
One of this movie's strongest assets lies in the superb pacing. It begins with a memorable initial scene where a calm family gathering is violently disrupted when a van plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to see the family before the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough opportunity to get to know its main characters prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family head is her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two things: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I almost forgot I was watching a horror film—which might sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film to showing viewers the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled me to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare feat in a genre which frequently introduces characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise when things finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story that masquerades like a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy before taking a sudden shift toward shocking ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient time to immerse in the setting prior to it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
This movie also offers a quite interesting reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the movie had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this affliction has on humans is absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and they're almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some examples of dubious choices (as in typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object they find rather than freezing like prey caught in lights while danger approaches.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close location. But when 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 isn't flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This makes those instances when these characters express appreciation toward one another seem much more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message about family or community, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're effective scares, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable
