For the most part, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems largely depleted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Development
Among this movie's strongest 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, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the disaster occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough time to get to know the primary characters before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on just two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might sound like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of the film depicting viewers the identity of every family member is, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often presents individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a real shock once events eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before making an abrupt shift into shocking territory. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to settle into its world before it gets upended.
Original Infection Source
This movie also offers a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this condition has on people proves absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and they're practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of questionable choices (as in any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find rather than standing still like prey in headlights while danger nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude for each other feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight about family or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are successful scares, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable
