For the most part, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Character Development
Among this movie's strongest assets is its superb pacing. It begins with a striking opening sequence where a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see this household prior to the tragedy struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough time to get to know the primary personalities before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably caused a rift among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. This household head is her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime to showing us the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits enabled the audience to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat for this style that often presents individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, so it's a genuine surprise once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before making an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough time to settle into its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
The film also offers a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly potion that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited context, the impact this condition produces on people proves utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some instances of questionable choices (as in typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals 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 is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters do show gratitude for each other seem far more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight about family or community, as well. Rather, it's primarily serving up frights. But they're effective frights, and since the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves a captivating and enjoyable
