Generally speaking, I've had my fill of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category seems mostly depleted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Rhythm and Personal Development
One of the film's strongest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family before the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough time to become acquainted with the primary characters before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. This household patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two aspects: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked this was a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime to showing us who each relative is, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to relate to the personalities enough to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often presents characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, so it's a real shock once events eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy before taking an abrupt turn into "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Origin
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the impact this affliction has on people proves utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and they're almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are a few instances of dubious choices (like any typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters do show gratitude for each other seem far more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight about family or society, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're successful scares, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and entertaining
