Typically, I've had my fill of undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category feels mostly depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved quite entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Growth
Among this movie's strongest assets is its superb pacing. It begins with a striking initial scene in which a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has predictably caused a rift among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and who enjoys gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family head consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so invested in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime to showing us the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits allowed me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often introduces individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a genuine shock when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to making an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" territory. These early moments aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to settle into the setting before everything gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
The film also offers a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this condition produces on people proves utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and are almost certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some examples of questionable choices (as in typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. 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 rather than standing still like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, which was 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 all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message about family or community, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're successful frights, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and enjoyable
