Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels largely depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.
Superb Rhythm and Character Growth
Among the film's greatest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family party is violently interrupted by a vehicle crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to see this household before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers sufficient time to get to know the primary personalities prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. This has understandably caused a rift among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two aspects: his business and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so invested in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot this was a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film depicting us who each relative represents, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits enabled the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat for this style which frequently introduces characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real shock once events eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy prior to taking a sudden turn toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to immerse in the setting before everything gets upended.
Original Infection Origin
The film also offers a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the effect this affliction produces on people is absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
Even better than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some examples of dubious choices (as in typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation 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 movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters do show appreciation toward one another seem much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're effective frights, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable
