Generally speaking, I'm over undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems largely exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Development
One of this movie's strongest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins using a memorable initial scene where a calm family gathering is violently disrupted by a van plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see the family before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary characters prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. The family head consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on just two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed with this household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime to showing viewers who each family member is, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often introduces characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a genuine surprise once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor before making an abrupt shift toward shocking ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to settle into its world before it gets upended.
Original Infection Source
The film also offers a fairly interesting explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of background, the effect this condition has on people is absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and they're practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
Even better than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of dubious choices (as in any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic 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 often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters do show appreciation toward one another seem much more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are successful frights, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining
