Typically, I'm over undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved quite entertaining.
Superb Rhythm and Personal Growth
Among this movie's greatest assets is its excellent pacing. It kicks off with a striking initial scene in which a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted by a van crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family prior to the tragedy struck.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough opportunity to get to know the primary characters before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has understandably caused a rift among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime depicting us who each family member represents, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often introduces individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama with slightly dark humor before making an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" territory. These early scenes don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough time to settle into its world before everything gets upended.
Original Infection Source
This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly potion that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this condition has on humans is absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and are almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of questionable choices (as in any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find rather than standing still like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This makes those instances when these characters express gratitude toward one another seem much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're effective scares, and because the movie gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining
