Typically, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels mostly depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Development
Among this movie's greatest strengths is its superb rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable opening sequence in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family before the disaster occurred.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough time to become acquainted with its main personalities before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has understandably led to a rift among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so invested in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of the film depicting viewers the identity of every family member is, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled the audience to connect with the characters enough to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, so it's a real surprise once events eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to making a sudden shift into "holy shit" territory. These early moments don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to settle into the setting prior to it gets upended.
Original Infection Source
This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the movie had spent a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly potion which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the effect this affliction produces on humans is utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and they're almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of questionable decision-making (like any any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than freezing like prey caught in lights while danger approaches.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals express gratitude for each other feel far more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are successful frights, and because the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and entertaining
