Generally speaking, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels largely exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Growth
One of the film's greatest assets is its superb pacing. It kicks off using a memorable opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a van plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the tragedy struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives viewers sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. This has predictably caused a rift among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. This household patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on only two things: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so invested with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film to showing viewers who each relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities enabled the audience to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, so it's a genuine shock when things eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with slightly dark humor before making a sudden turn toward "holy shit" territory. These early moments aren't centered as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient time to settle into the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Origin
The film also offers a quite intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the effect this condition has on people is 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 choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and are practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, there are a few instances of dubious decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument is available instead of freezing like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters do show gratitude toward one another feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message about family or society, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're effective scares, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining
