Typically, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out quite enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Development
One of this movie's strongest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins using a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges and begins attacking the attendees. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household prior to the tragedy struck.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough time to become acquainted with the primary characters before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two aspects: his business and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely tense.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film to showing viewers who each relative represents, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits allowed me to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare feat in a genre which frequently presents individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, so it's a real shock when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy before making an abrupt shift toward shocking territory. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient time to immerse in its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Source
This movie additionally presents a quite interesting reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the impact this affliction has on people is absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and are almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of dubious decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters express gratitude toward one another seem much more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. Yet these are effective scares, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable
