For the most part, I'm over undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels largely exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Development
One of the film's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a striking initial scene where a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is then followed by a look back, allowing us to see the family prior to the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary characters before the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family head consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on just two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so invested with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every family member represents, and how they add to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing traits enabled the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a genuine shock when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before taking a sudden turn into "holy shit" territory. These early moments don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient time to settle into the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
The film also offers a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding how it started, I wish the movie devoted additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the effect this condition has on people proves utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and are almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some examples of dubious choices (as in typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger approaches.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, which was a pleasantly authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another seem far more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message about family or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. Yet these are effective scares, and since the film allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining
