For the most part, I've had my fill of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels mostly depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved quite entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Character Development
Among the film's greatest strengths is its excellent pacing. It begins with a striking initial scene where a calm family gathering is violently disrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough time to become acquainted with the primary characters before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family head is Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of the film to showing us who each family member is, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat for this style which frequently introduces individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine shock once events finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy before taking a sudden shift into shocking territory. These early moments don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient time to immerse in its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Origin
This movie also offers a quite intriguing reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the movie had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of background, the impact this affliction has on humans proves utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
Even better than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some instances of dubious decision-making (as in typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than freezing like prey caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters do show gratitude toward one another seem far more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight about family or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're successful frights, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
