For the most part, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems largely depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Character Growth
One of this movie's greatest assets is its superb rhythm. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence in which a calm family party is violently disrupted when a vehicle crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see the family before the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough time to become acquainted with the primary characters prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably caused a falling out among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but socially awkward, and he enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. This household patriarch is her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked this was a horror film—which might sound like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of the film to showing us who each relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, so it's a real shock once events finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor before making a sudden shift into "holy shit" territory. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to immerse in its world prior to it gets upended.
Original Infection Origin
This movie additionally presents a quite interesting explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the film had spent additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this affliction has on people is utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and they're almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of dubious decision-making (as in typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger approaches.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, 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 unleashes a massive level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals express gratitude for each other seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight about family or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are effective frights, and because the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
