For the most part, I've had my fill of undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category seems largely depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Growth
One of the film's strongest assets lies in the superb pacing. It begins using a memorable opening sequence where a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a van plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family before the tragedy struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient time to get to know its main characters prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and who loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so invested in the household's issues and their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film to showing us who each relative represents, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled me to connect to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine shock when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor before making a sudden turn into "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting before everything gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie also offers a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the film had spent additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of context, the effect this affliction produces on humans is absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and are almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of questionable choices (as in typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available rather than standing still like prey in headlights as death approaches.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a welcome realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes is not perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters do show gratitude toward one another feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message about family or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're effective scares, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining
