Generally speaking, I've had my fill of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems mostly depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out quite enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Growth
One of this movie's greatest assets is its excellent rhythm. It begins using a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family party is violently interrupted when a vehicle plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to observe this household before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough opportunity to get to know its main characters before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has understandably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. The family head is her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on only two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film to showing us the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits allowed me to relate to the personalities enough to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a real surprise when things finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor before taking an abrupt turn toward shocking territory. These early moments aren't centered as much on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to immerse in its world before it gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Origin
This movie also offers a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the movie had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of context, the effect this condition produces on people proves utterly disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
Even better than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of dubious choices (like any typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, this proved a welcome authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another feel far more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight about family or community, as well. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're effective scares, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
