For the most part, I've grown tired of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Character Growth
One of the film's greatest strengths is its excellent pacing. It begins with a memorable initial scene in which a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family before the disaster occurred.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough opportunity to get to know its main personalities before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household head is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on only two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this household's issues and their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked this was a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime to showing us who each relative represents, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits enabled the audience to connect to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare feat in a genre that often presents characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, so it's a real shock when things eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to taking an abrupt shift into "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to settle into the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
The film also offers a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the movie had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this affliction has on people is absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of dubious decision-making (like any typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. Yet these are effective scares, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is an engaging and enjoyable
