For the most part, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems largely exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Character Growth
One of this movie's greatest assets is its excellent pacing. It kicks off with a striking initial scene where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see the family prior to the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities before the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has understandably caused a falling out among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so invested in the household's issues and their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled me to relate with the characters enough to care about their fate—a rare feat for this style which frequently introduces characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, so it's a genuine surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to taking a sudden turn toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient time to immerse in the setting before it gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the movie devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of context, the impact this affliction produces on people proves utterly disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and are practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some instances of dubious decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find instead of freezing like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, 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 everything! trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals express gratitude for each other seem much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're successful scares, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
