For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems mostly depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated turning out quite entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth
One of this movie's greatest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins with a memorable initial scene in which a calm family party is violently disrupted by a van crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has understandably led to a falling out among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. This household patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime to showing us the identity of every family member represents, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed me to connect with the characters enough to care about their outcome—a rare feat in a genre which frequently presents characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine shock once events eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to taking an abrupt shift into shocking ground. These early moments don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives enough opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Original Infection Source
The film also offers a quite intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, I wish the film devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this affliction has on people proves utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and they're almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
Even better compared to the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are a few examples of questionable choices (like any typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances where these individuals express appreciation for each other feel far more sincere.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message about family or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're successful frights, and because the film allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining
