🔗 Share this article

Generally speaking, I'm over zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems largely depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.

Impressive Rhythm and Character Development

One of this movie's strongest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence where a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle plows into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household prior to the tragedy occurred.

Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary characters prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but socially awkward, and who loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly strained.

Engaged in the Conflict

I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might sound like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film to showing us the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled me to relate with the characters enough to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently presents individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, so it's a genuine shock when things eventually go wrong.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The initial scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to making an abrupt shift into "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to immerse in its world before it gets upended.

Original Infection Source

The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the movie had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the impact this condition produces on humans proves utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and are almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.

Resourceful Personalities

More impressive compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of questionable decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object is available rather than freezing like a deer in headlights as death approaches.

Realistic Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes those instances when these characters do show appreciation for each other feel much more genuine.

Predictable Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are effective frights, and because the movie gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is an engaging and enjoyable