Typically, I'm over zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category seems largely depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Character Development
One of the film's greatest assets lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence where a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household prior to the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. This has understandably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but socially awkward, and who enjoys gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household head consists of her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on just two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film to showing us the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed me to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy before making a sudden turn into "holy shit" ground. These early scenes don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient time to immerse in its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While 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 trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of context, the effect this condition has on people is utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and are practically guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some examples of questionable choices (like any typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available instead of standing still like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic subversion from the "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 apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another feel far more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful scares, and because the movie gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining
