For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Character Growth
One of the film's greatest strengths is its superb rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene where a calm family gathering is violently interrupted when a vehicle plows into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family prior to the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough time to become acquainted with the primary characters before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. The family head consists of her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the household's issues and their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime to showing us the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare feat in a genre which frequently introduces individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, so it's a genuine shock when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor before making an abrupt shift into "holy shit" territory. These early scenes don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to immerse in the setting before everything gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
This movie also offers a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the movie devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited context, the impact this affliction has on humans is utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of questionable choices (like any typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like prey in headlights as death approaches.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters do show gratitude for each other feel far more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are successful frights, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
