Typically, 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 gripping, this category seems largely exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Growth
Among the film's strongest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off with a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a van plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see this household prior to the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. This has predictably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but socially awkward, and who enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. The family head is Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on only two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked this was a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of the film to showing viewers the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled me to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often presents characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, so it's a genuine shock once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and various household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama with slightly dark humor before making a sudden turn toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to settle into its world prior to it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the movie had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the impact this condition has on people is utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and are almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of questionable choices (like any typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto resentment 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 the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight about family or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're effective frights, and since the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and entertaining