Generally speaking, I'm over zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category seems mostly depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Development
One of this movie's greatest assets is its superb rhythm. It begins with a striking initial scene where a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted by a vehicle plows into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see the family prior to the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough time to become acquainted with its main personalities before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably led to a rift between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and who enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. The family patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on just two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of the film depicting us who each relative represents, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits enabled me to connect to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a real surprise once events eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor before taking a sudden shift into "holy shit" territory. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Origin
The film also offers a fairly interesting explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal potion that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the effect this condition has on people proves absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and they're practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of dubious decision-making (as in any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object they find instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, this proved a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters do show appreciation toward one another seem much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message about family or community, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful frights, and since the film allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable
