🔗 Share this article

Typically, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.

Impressive Rhythm and Personal Development

One of the film's greatest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins with a striking initial scene where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family before the disaster struck.

Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient time to become acquainted with its main characters prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. This household head consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.

Engaged in the Drama

I found myself so invested with this household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of the film to showing us the identity of every relative represents, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style that often presents characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a real surprise once events finally go wrong.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The initial scenes from the gathering and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy before making a sudden turn toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.

Unique Infection Source

The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this affliction has on humans proves absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring decision, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and are almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.

Capable Characters

More impressive than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of dubious decision-making (as in any good undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like prey caught in lights while danger nears.

Believable Family Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a welcome authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters do show appreciation toward one another feel far more sincere.

Stereotypical Ending

Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message about family or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are successful scares, and since the film allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and entertaining