Typically, I've grown tired of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels mostly depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved quite entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Growth
One of the film's strongest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a striking initial scene in which a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is then followed by a look back, allowing us to observe this household before the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough time to get to know its main characters prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably led to a falling out among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family head consists of her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly forgot this was a horror film—which might sound like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime to showing viewers who each family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing traits allowed the audience to relate with the characters enough to care about their outcome—a rare feat for this style that often presents individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine shock when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before taking an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" ground. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient time to immerse in its world before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
The film also offers a quite intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the film devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this condition produces on humans is absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and are practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
More impressive than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of dubious choices (like any typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object they find rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, which was a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup 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 relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation for each other seem much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or community, as well. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are successful frights, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
