Generally speaking, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems largely depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Growth
Among the film's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off with a striking initial scene where a calm family party is violently interrupted by a vehicle crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household before the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough opportunity to get to know the primary personalities before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch is her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime to showing viewers who each family member is, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities allowed the audience to relate to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine shock once events eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy prior to taking a sudden turn toward "holy shit" territory. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Source
The film also offers a fairly interesting explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a new batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the film devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this affliction produces on humans is utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of dubious decision-making (like any any good undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like prey in headlights as death nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her husband, 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 over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—seem authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances where these individuals express gratitude for each other seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight about family or society, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. Yet these are effective scares, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves a captivating and enjoyable
