Generally speaking, I've grown tired of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category seems largely exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Character Growth
One of the film's greatest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It begins using a striking opening sequence in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household prior to the tragedy struck.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household head consists of Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime to showing us the identity of every family member is, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed the audience to connect with the characters enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat for this style that often presents individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, so it's a genuine surprise once events eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy before making a sudden shift into "holy shit" ground. These early scenes don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to settle into the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
This movie also offers a fairly interesting explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this condition has on people proves utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
Even better than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of questionable choices (as in any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object is available 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 once individuals begin transforming to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters express gratitude for each other feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message about family or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. But they're successful frights, and because the movie allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining
