For the most part, I've had my fill of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels largely depleted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Personal Growth
Among the film's strongest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins with a striking opening sequence in which a calm family gathering is violently interrupted when a van crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see this household prior to the disaster struck.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know its main personalities prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has predictably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and who enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. This household patriarch is her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot this was a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film depicting us the identity of every family member is, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed me to relate to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style that often presents characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a real surprise once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor before making a sudden turn toward shocking territory. These early scenes aren't centered as much on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world prior to everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Origin
The film additionally presents a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the film devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this affliction has on people is utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and they're practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are a few examples of questionable decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like prey in headlights while danger nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters do show gratitude toward one another seem much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're successful scares, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and enjoyable
