🔗 Share this article

Generally speaking, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category seems largely exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.

Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth

One of this movie's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It begins using a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle plows into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see the family prior to the tragedy occurred.

In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has understandably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. The family head is her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves extremely strained.

Engaged in the Drama

I became so invested in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime to showing us who each family member is, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities allowed me to relate with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently introduces characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine shock when things finally deteriorate.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The initial sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before taking a sudden shift toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to settle into its world prior to everything gets upended.

Original Infection Source

This movie additionally presents a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the impact this condition produces on humans proves absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and are practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.

Resourceful Characters

Even better compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of questionable decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights as death nears.

Believable Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters express gratitude for each other seem far more sincere.

Predictable Conclusion

Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight about family or society, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. Yet these are successful frights, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable