Generally speaking, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels mostly depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
One of this movie's greatest assets lies in the superb pacing. It begins with a striking opening sequence in which a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is then followed by a look back, allowing us to see this household before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough time to get to know its main personalities before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has understandably led to a rift among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. The family patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film to showing us who each family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing personalities allowed the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style that often presents individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a real shock once events finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to making an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" ground. These early moments don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to settle into its world prior to everything gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
The film also offers a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While some background is provided something regarding how it started, I wish the film devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited background, the impact this condition has on people proves utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and they're practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some examples of questionable decision-making (as in any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object they find rather than freezing like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters express appreciation for each other seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight about family or community, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're successful frights, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and enjoyable
