For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Personal Growth
Among the film's strongest strengths is its excellent pacing. It begins using a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted when a van plows into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see this household prior to the disaster occurred.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with its main personalities before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift between the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. The family head is her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two things: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so invested in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every family member represents, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits allowed me to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat for this style which frequently presents characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a genuine shock once events eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama with slightly dark humor prior to taking a sudden turn into shocking ground. These early scenes aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient time to settle into its world before it gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this condition has on humans proves absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of questionable choices (like any typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters do show appreciation for each other seem far more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're successful scares, and because the movie gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining
