Generally speaking, 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, the genre feels largely depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Development
One of the film's strongest assets is its superb pacing. It begins with a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see the family prior to the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. This has predictably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. The family patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film depicting us the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed me to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often presents individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, so it's a genuine surprise once events finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy before taking an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments aren't centered as much on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to immerse in its world before it gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
This movie also offers a fairly interesting reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the effect this condition produces on people proves absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite convincing, and are almost certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
More impressive than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of dubious choices (like any typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object they find rather than standing still like prey in headlights as death approaches.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals express appreciation for each other seem much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight about family or society, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are effective frights, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining
