For the most part, I've grown tired of zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels largely exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Superb Rhythm and Personal Growth
One of this movie's greatest assets lies in the superb pacing. It begins with a striking initial scene where a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a van plows into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient time to get to know the primary characters prior to the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. This household head consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on only two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film to showing viewers the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat for this style which frequently presents individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a real shock once events eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy before taking an abrupt turn toward shocking ground. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough time to settle into the setting prior to it gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the effect this condition has on people proves absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
Even better than the gross-out 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 family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find rather than standing still like prey caught in lights while danger approaches.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic deviation 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 apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes those instances when these characters express gratitude toward one another feel far more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're effective frights, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining
