For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems largely depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
Among this movie's greatest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene where a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see the family prior to the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with its main characters prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. This household head is her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime depicting us who each relative represents, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities allowed the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine surprise when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy before taking a sudden turn into "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Unique Infection Origin
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the film devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly potion which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of background, the impact this affliction has on humans is utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring decision, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and they're almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are a few instances of dubious decision-making (as in typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object is available rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people begin transforming to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters do show gratitude toward one another feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're effective frights, and because the movie gives each character enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining
