Typically, I've had my fill of undead films. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out quite enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Development
Among this movie's greatest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off with a striking initial scene in which a calm family gathering is violently disrupted when a vehicle crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family before the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough time to get to know its main personalities before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has understandably led to a falling out between the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household head consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so invested with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film to showing viewers the identity of every relative is, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits allowed the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often presents characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, so it's a real surprise once events eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various family interactions actually evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to making a sudden shift into shocking territory. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Origin
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a new batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this affliction produces on humans proves utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and are practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some instances of questionable decision-making (as in any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument is available rather than freezing like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters express gratitude toward one another seem much more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight about family or society, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're effective scares, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable
