For the most part, I'm over zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels mostly depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. However, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved quite entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Character Development
One of this movie's greatest assets is its superb rhythm. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence where a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see the family prior to the disaster struck.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary characters prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has predictably led to a rift among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family head consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked this was a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime depicting us who each family member represents, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities allowed the audience to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently presents individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a genuine shock once events eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to making a sudden turn toward shocking territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient time to immerse in its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
This movie also offers a fairly interesting reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the movie devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a lethal potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the impact this affliction produces on people proves absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and are almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are a few instances of dubious decision-making (as in any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger approaches.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters do show appreciation toward one another feel far more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message about family or society, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're successful scares, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and enjoyable
