Generally speaking, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels mostly depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved quite entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth
Among the film's strongest assets lies in the superb pacing. It begins with a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household before the disaster struck.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary characters prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably caused a rift between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and who loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on just two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of the film depicting us the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities allowed the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often presents characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a real shock once events finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to taking a sudden shift into shocking ground. These introductory moments aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives enough time to immerse in its world before it gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
The film additionally presents a quite interesting explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited background, the effect this affliction produces on humans proves utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and are practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
More impressive than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of questionable decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people start turning 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 everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close location. But when Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters express appreciation toward one another feel much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're successful scares, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining
