For the most part, I've had my fill of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems largely exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Character Development
One of the film's strongest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It begins with a striking initial scene where a calm family party is violently disrupted when a van plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then followed by a look back, allowing us to see the family prior to the tragedy struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably led to a rift among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household head consists of her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every family member is, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities enabled the audience to connect with the characters enough to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to devour, so it's a real shock when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy prior to making a sudden turn toward shocking territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Origin
The film also offers a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the film devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of context, the impact this affliction has on people is absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and are practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of dubious decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like prey in headlights while danger approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters do show appreciation for each other feel far more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message about family or community, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are successful scares, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
