🔗 Share this article

Typically, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems largely exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.

Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth

One of the film's greatest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence where a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle plows into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see this household prior to the tragedy struck.

In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. This has predictably caused a rift among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. This household head is her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly strained.

Engaged in the Drama

I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film to showing viewers the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities enabled me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style that often presents individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a real shock when things eventually go wrong.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The initial scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy before taking a sudden turn into "holy shit" ground. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives enough time to immerse in the setting before it gets upended.

Original Infection Origin

This movie also offers a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the impact this condition has on humans proves absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and are almost certain to trigger one's trypophobia.

Resourceful Personalities

Even better compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of questionable choices (like any any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like prey in headlights as death approaches.

Realistic Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This makes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another feel far more genuine.

Stereotypical Ending

Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message about family or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're successful frights, and because the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable