Typically, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels largely depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's latest 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 excellent pacing. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle plows into the seating section. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household before the disaster occurred.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities before the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and who loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. This household head consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot this was a horror film—which might sound like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of the film to showing viewers who each family member is, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a real shock when things finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before taking an abrupt turn into shocking ground. These early moments don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Origin
The film additionally presents a fairly interesting reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding how it started, I wish the movie devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this condition produces on humans proves utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and are practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of dubious choices (like any any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object is available instead of standing still like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters do show gratitude toward one another seem far more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're effective frights, and because the film allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and entertaining
