Typically, I'm over zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems largely exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth
Among this movie's strongest assets is its excellent pacing. It begins with a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family party is violently disrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see this household before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose ex close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household head consists of Nes' father, the owner of a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two things: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime to showing us the identity of every relative represents, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits allowed me to relate to the personalities enough to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine shock once events finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor before taking an abrupt turn into shocking ground. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient time to immerse in its world prior to everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
The film additionally presents a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the movie had spent additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of context, the impact this affliction produces on humans proves absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and are almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of dubious choices (like any typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available rather than standing still like a deer in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals 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 conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're successful scares, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining
