Typically, I'm over zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated turning out quite entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Development
One of this movie's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering is violently interrupted when a vehicle crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense moment is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household prior to the tragedy occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former close friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably caused a falling out between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked this was a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime depicting viewers who each family member is, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits allowed me to relate with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat in a genre which frequently presents characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a real shock when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before making an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" territory. These early scenes don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives enough opportunity to settle into its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of background, the impact this condition has on people is absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and are practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some instances of questionable decision-making (like any any good undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals express gratitude for each other seem much more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. But they're effective scares, and since the film allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and entertaining
