Typically, I'm over zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Character Development
One of the film's strongest strengths is its excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household before the tragedy struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough time to become acquainted with its main characters before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and he loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. The family head is her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film depicting viewers the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon feat for this style that often introduces individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, so it's a real surprise once events eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various family interactions actually evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to taking an abrupt turn into shocking territory. These early moments don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient time to immerse in the setting before it gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Origin
This movie additionally presents a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the film devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this condition produces on people proves absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and are almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of dubious decision-making (as in any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest heavy object is available instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters do show gratitude toward one another feel far more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're effective frights, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
