Typically, I'm over zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Development
One of the film's greatest strengths is its superb pacing. It begins using a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a van plows into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to see this household before the disaster struck.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough time to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has predictably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and who enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. This household head is her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two things: his business and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely tense.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked this was a horror film—which might seem like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing traits enabled me to connect with the characters enough to care about their outcome—a rare feat in a genre which frequently presents individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine shock when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to taking a sudden shift into "holy shit" ground. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives enough opportunity to settle into its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Origin
This movie additionally presents a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a new batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the movie devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the effect this condition produces on humans is utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and are almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments are the characters 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 inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like prey in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters express gratitude toward one another seem much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight about family or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're successful frights, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and enjoyable
