Generally speaking, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems mostly depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Personal Growth
One of the film's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family gathering is violently interrupted when a van crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with its main personalities before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. This household head consists of her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every relative is, and how they add to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing personalities allowed the audience to relate to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style that often presents characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama with slightly dark humor prior to making an abrupt shift into "holy shit" ground. These early moments don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough time to settle into the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
The film additionally presents a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than a unintended lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the movie had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this condition has on people is utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and are almost certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
Even better than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of questionable decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than freezing like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals express gratitude toward one another feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight about family or community, as well. Rather, it's primarily serving up frights. But they're effective frights, and because the movie gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and entertaining
