For the most part, I've grown tired of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels largely exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. However, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Character Growth
One of the film's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence where a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a van plows into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know its main personalities prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. This has understandably led to a rift among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and who loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. This household patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of the film to showing us the identity of every family member is, 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 fate—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a real surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor before making a sudden shift toward "holy shit" ground. These early moments don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough time to settle into the setting prior to it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
This movie additionally presents a quite intriguing reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the movie devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the effect this condition has on people is absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and they're practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
Even better compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of questionable choices (like any any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument is available instead of 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 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 pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another feel far more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful scares, and since the film allows every personality enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining
