Typically, I've grown tired of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels largely depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Rhythm and Personal Growth
One of this movie's strongest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It begins with a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted when a van plows into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household before the tragedy struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough time to get to know the primary personalities prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has predictably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so engrossed with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of the film to showing viewers who each family member represents, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities allowed the audience to connect with the characters enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often presents characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and various family interactions actually evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with slightly dark humor before making a sudden turn into shocking territory. These early scenes aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives enough opportunity to settle into its world before it gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Origin
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect this affliction has on humans proves utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and are practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of questionable decision-making (like any any good undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find instead of freezing like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic 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 frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals express gratitude toward one another feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message about family or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful scares, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable
