For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category seems largely depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out quite enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Growth
One of this movie's strongest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family party is violently disrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see the family prior to the disaster occurred.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough time to become acquainted with the primary characters before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. This has understandably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household head is Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could sound like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime to showing us the identity of every family member represents, and how they add to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled me to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a real shock when things eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama with slightly dark humor prior to making a sudden shift toward shocking territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives enough opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this condition has on people proves utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and are practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some examples of dubious choices (like any typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, which was a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude for each other feel far more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message regarding relatives or community, as well. Instead, it's mostly delivering frights. Yet these are effective scares, and since the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining
