For the most part, I'm over zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels mostly depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
Among this movie's greatest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins with a memorable initial scene in which a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted when a van plows into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household prior to the disaster occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably led to a rift among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on just two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked this was a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film to showing viewers who each family member represents, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing traits allowed the audience to relate to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often presents individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, so it's a real shock once events eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor before taking an abrupt shift into "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to immerse in its world before it gets upended.
Original Infection Source
This movie also offers a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the movie had spent additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the effect this condition produces on humans proves absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and are practically guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some examples of questionable choices (like any typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like prey in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals express gratitude toward one another feel far more genuine.
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 some profound message regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are successful scares, and because the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining
