Generally speaking, I'm over zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels mostly 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, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Character Growth
One of this movie's strongest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted when a van plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then followed by a look back, allowing us to see the family prior to the disaster occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough opportunity to get to know its main personalities prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two things: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so invested with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film depicting us the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits enabled me to relate with the characters enough to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a real shock once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and the multiple family interactions 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 aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough time to settle into its world before it gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
The film also offers a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a new 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 on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the effect this condition has on people proves utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and are practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of questionable decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like prey in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation for each other seem much more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are successful frights, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
