Typically, I've grown tired of zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels mostly depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Growth
One of this movie's greatest assets is its excellent pacing. It begins using a striking initial scene where a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household before the disaster struck.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough opportunity to get to know the primary characters before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so engrossed in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot this was a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime to showing us the identity of every relative represents, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled the audience to connect with the characters enough to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, so it's a real shock when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to taking an abrupt turn toward shocking ground. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to immerse in the setting before everything gets upended.
Original Infection Source
The film also offers a quite interesting explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding how it started, I wish the film devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited context, the impact this condition produces on people proves utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and are almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of dubious decision-making (like any any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find rather than standing still like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang admits he is unaware 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 understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation for each other feel far more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message about family or community, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are effective frights, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable
