For the most part, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems largely exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Development
One of this movie's greatest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off with a striking initial scene in which a calm family party is violently interrupted when a van plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see this household prior to the tragedy struck.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household head consists of her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so invested in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime to showing us who each family member represents, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat for this style which frequently introduces characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine shock when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy before making an abrupt turn into "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient time to settle into its world prior to it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the movie devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly potion that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the effect this condition has on people proves utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and are almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of dubious choices (like any any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger approaches.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals begin transforming to the undead, this proved a welcome 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 end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters express appreciation toward one another seem far more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are effective frights, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
