Generally speaking, I've grown tired of undead films. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems largely exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. However, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Superb Rhythm and Character Development
One of this movie's greatest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a striking initial scene in which a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers sufficient time to become acquainted with its main characters before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and he loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. This household patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on only two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely tense.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film depicting us the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a real shock once events eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to making an abrupt turn into shocking territory. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to immerse in the setting prior to it gets upended.
Original Infection Origin
This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this affliction has on humans proves utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and are practically guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
Even better than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of questionable choices (as in typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like prey caught in lights while danger approaches.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another feel far more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight about family or community, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're effective scares, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining
