Generally speaking, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels largely exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Character Growth
One of this movie's greatest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a striking initial scene where a peaceful family party is violently disrupted by a van crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe the family before the tragedy struck.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has understandably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. This household patriarch is her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of the film to showing viewers the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often presents characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a real surprise once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before taking a sudden turn into shocking territory. These early moments aren't centered as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient time to immerse in its world prior to everything gets upended.
Unique Infection Origin
The film also offers a quite interesting explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the movie devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the effect this affliction has on people is absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite convincing, and they're practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some instances of questionable decision-making (like any typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation for each other seem much more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or community, as well. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are successful frights, and since the film allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining
