🔗 Share this article

Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category feels largely exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.

Superb Rhythm and Character Growth

One of the film's greatest strengths is its excellent pacing. It begins with a striking initial scene where a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted when a van plows into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family before the disaster occurred.

In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough time to get to know the primary personalities prior to the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and who enjoys gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two things: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely strained.

Engaged in the Drama

I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime depicting viewers who each relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities enabled the audience to connect with the characters enough to care about their outcome—a rare feat in a genre that often introduces characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine shock once events finally go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The opening scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to taking a sudden shift into shocking territory. These early moments aren't centered as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to settle into its world before everything gets upended.

Unique Infection Origin

This movie also offers a quite interesting reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the effect this affliction produces on people is utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and they're almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.

Resourceful Personalities

More impressive compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of dubious decision-making (like any typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger approaches.

Believable Family Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another feel far more sincere.

Stereotypical Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight about family or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. Yet these are successful scares, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and enjoyable