For the most part, I'm over undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems largely exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Development
Among this movie's strongest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off using a memorable opening sequence where a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough opportunity to get to know the primary personalities before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. This household head consists of her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film depicting us who each relative represents, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine shock once events finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a K-Drama with slightly dark humor before making an abrupt turn into "holy shit" territory. These early scenes don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to settle into the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Source
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the movie had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this condition has on people proves utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and they're practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
Even better compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of questionable decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like prey in headlights while danger approaches.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family 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 how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters express appreciation for each other seem far more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message about family or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. Yet these are effective frights, and because the movie allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is an engaging and enjoyable
