Generally speaking, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels mostly depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Development
One of this movie's greatest strengths is its excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a striking initial scene where a peaceful family party is violently interrupted when a vehicle plows into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family before the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough opportunity to get to know its main characters before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has understandably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but socially awkward, and who loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch is her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked this was a horror film—something that could sound like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime depicting us the identity of every family member is, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits allowed the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre that often presents individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine surprise once events eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama with slightly dark humor prior to making an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient time to immerse in the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Origin
This movie additionally presents a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the effect this condition produces on people proves utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite convincing, and are practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of questionable choices (like any any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available instead of freezing like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters do show appreciation for each other feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. But they're successful scares, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
