Typically, I've had my fill of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category feels mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. However, the platform's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved quite entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Personal Growth
Among the film's greatest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a memorable initial scene in which a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is then followed by a look back, allowing us to see this household before the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has predictably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. This household head is her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two aspects: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so invested with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot I was watching a horror film—which might sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to connect with the characters enough to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat for this style which frequently presents characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to making a sudden shift into shocking ground. These early moments don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to immerse in its world before everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Origin
The film additionally presents a quite interesting explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a new batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this condition has on people is absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and they're practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some examples of questionable decision-making (as in any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters express gratitude toward one another seem much more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message about family or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're successful frights, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining
