For the most part, I'm over zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems largely depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.
Superb Rhythm and Character Growth
One of this movie's strongest assets is its superb rhythm. It begins with a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted by a van crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to see the family prior to the tragedy struck.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough opportunity to get to know its main characters before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. This household patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed 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 in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film to showing us who each family member represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine surprise once events eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to taking an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" territory. These early moments don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting before it gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
The film also offers a fairly interesting reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the impact this condition has on people is absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and are practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of questionable decision-making (as in typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find rather than freezing like prey in headlights while danger approaches.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters express appreciation toward one another seem far more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message about family or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're effective scares, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining
