Generally speaking, I'm over zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Development
Among this movie's greatest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a memorable opening sequence where a calm family party is violently disrupted by a van plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe this household before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary personalities prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. This has understandably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. The family head is her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime depicting us who each family member represents, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often introduces individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a real surprise once events finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before taking an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting before it gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Origin
The film also offers a quite interesting reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the film devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited background, the impact this affliction has on people is absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and are almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of questionable choices (as in any good undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like prey in headlights while danger approaches.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes those instances when these characters do show appreciation toward one another feel far more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message about family or community, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're successful frights, and because the film gives each character enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining
