For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Character Development
Among the film's strongest strengths is its superb rhythm. It begins with a memorable initial scene in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a van plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see this household before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has understandably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on just two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film to showing us who each family member represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled me to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style that often presents characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine shock when things eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before making an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient time to immerse in its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Origin
The film also offers a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the film had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the impact this condition produces on people is utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
Even better compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of questionable decision-making (as in typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances where these individuals express gratitude for each other feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are successful scares, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable
