For the most part, I've had my fill of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels largely exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out quite entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
One of this movie's strongest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering is violently interrupted by a van plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with its main personalities before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. This has predictably caused a rift between the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch is her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who appears focused on just two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot this was a horror film—which might seem like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime to showing us who each relative represents, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities allowed the audience to connect with the characters enough to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style that often presents characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, so it's a genuine surprise once events finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor before taking an abrupt shift toward shocking territory. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient time to immerse in its world before everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
This movie also offers a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited background, the impact this condition has on people proves utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and are practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are a few instances of dubious decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, this proved a welcome authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another seem far more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are effective scares, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining
