Typically, I've grown tired of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Development
Among this movie's greatest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins using a striking initial scene where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to see this household prior to the disaster struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know its main personalities before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably led to a rift among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household head consists of her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot I was watching a horror film—something that could sound like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film to showing us the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities allowed the audience to connect with the characters enough to care about their fate—a rare feat for this style which frequently presents characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a real shock when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to taking a sudden turn into "holy shit" territory. These early scenes don't focus as much on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Origin
This movie also offers a fairly interesting explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more 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 background, the impact this condition produces on people proves utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and are practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some examples of questionable choices (as in typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object they find instead of freezing like prey in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "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 films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters express gratitude toward one another seem much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message about family or society, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're effective scares, and because the film allows every personality enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
