For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels largely depleted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.
Superb Rhythm and Personal Development
One of this movie's strongest strengths is its superb pacing. It begins with a memorable initial scene in which a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a van plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe the family prior to the tragedy occurred.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient time to get to know the primary characters before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. The family patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he seems focused on only two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime to showing us the identity of every family member is, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing traits allowed me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat in a genre that often presents characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a real shock once events finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before making an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough time to settle into its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
The film also offers a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the impact this condition produces on humans proves absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and are practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of dubious choices (as in typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters express gratitude toward one another seem much more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight about family or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are successful frights, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining
