Generally speaking, I'm over zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category seems largely exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Character Growth
Among this movie's greatest assets is its excellent pacing. It begins with a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household before the disaster occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose former close friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has understandably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and he enjoys gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he seems focused on just two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so invested with this household's issues and their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film depicting us the identity of every family member represents, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to relate to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often introduces individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, so it's a real shock once events finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor before taking an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" territory. These early moments don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Source
The film also offers a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of context, the effect this condition produces on humans proves utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and they're almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
Even better than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of questionable choices (like any any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available instead of standing still like prey caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming to the undead, 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 often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters do show appreciation toward one another seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're successful frights, and since the movie gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
