Typically, I've had my fill of undead films. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category feels mostly exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Character Development
One of this movie's greatest assets is its superb rhythm. It begins with a striking initial scene where a calm family gathering is violently interrupted when a vehicle plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family prior to the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient time to get to know its main personalities prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has predictably caused 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 Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. This household patriarch is her dad, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of the film depicting viewers who each family member is, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled the audience to relate with the characters enough to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy before taking a sudden shift into "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives enough opportunity to settle into the setting before it gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
The film also offers a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the effect this affliction has on people proves absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and they're practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
More impressive than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of dubious decision-making (as in any good undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than freezing like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a welcome authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters do show appreciation toward one another feel far more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up frights. But they're effective frights, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and enjoyable
