Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, the platform's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
One of this movie's strongest strengths is its excellent pacing. It begins with a striking initial scene in which a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see this household prior to the tragedy struck.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and who loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household head is Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime to showing us the identity of every family member is, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often presents individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a genuine surprise when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor before taking a sudden shift into shocking ground. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient time to immerse in the setting before it gets upended.
Original Infection Source
The film additionally presents a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly potion which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this condition produces on people is absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and they're almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some instances of questionable decision-making (as in any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like prey in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude for each other feel far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message about family or community, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are effective scares, and because the movie gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining
