Typically, I'm over undead films. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems largely exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out quite entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Character Development
One of the film's strongest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a striking initial scene in which a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe the family prior to the tragedy occurred.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know its main characters before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably caused a falling out between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. This household patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so invested with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime to showing us the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities enabled the audience to relate with the characters enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style which frequently presents individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy prior to taking an abrupt shift toward shocking ground. These introductory moments don't focus as much on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives enough time to immerse in its world prior to everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding 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 deadly potion which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the impact this condition has on humans is absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
Even better than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of questionable choices (as in any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict once individuals begin transforming into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide over the phone to regroup at a close location. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters do show appreciation for each other seem much more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're effective frights, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is an engaging and enjoyable
