Generally speaking, I'm over zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems mostly exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. However, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth
One of the film's greatest strengths is its superb rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted by a vehicle plows into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe this household before the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient time to get to know the primary personalities prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and he loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. The family patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he seems focused on just two things: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked this was a horror film—something that could sound like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of the film depicting us the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style that often presents individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine shock when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy before taking a sudden shift toward shocking ground. These early moments don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to settle into its world prior to it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the film devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the effect this affliction produces on humans is absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of dubious decision-making (like any typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find instead of standing still like prey in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation for each other feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight about family or society, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're successful frights, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
