For the most part, I've grown tired of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems mostly depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 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 defy my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Growth
Among the film's strongest assets is its excellent pacing. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe this household prior to the disaster occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know its main characters prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two aspects: his business and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film depicting us who each family member represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, so it's a real surprise once events eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and various household exchanges actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy prior to taking a sudden shift toward shocking territory. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient time to settle into its world before everything gets upended.
Original Infection Source
This movie 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 of this infectious condition stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion which seems to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this condition has on people is absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of dubious decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object they find rather than freezing like prey caught in lights while danger approaches.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide over the phone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude for each other feel far more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message regarding relatives or community, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're successful frights, and because the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
