Typically, I'm over undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category seems largely exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth
One of this movie's strongest assets lies in the superb pacing. It begins using a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted when a van plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking individual emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see this household prior to the tragedy struck.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough time to become acquainted with its main characters before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. This has understandably caused a rift among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. The family head consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two things: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked this was a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime depicting us the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled me to connect to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare feat for this style that often presents individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, so it's a real shock when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to making an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough time to settle into its world prior to everything gets upended.
Original Infection Source
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this affliction produces on humans is absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and they're almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of dubious choices (like any any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like prey in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude for each other feel much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are effective frights, and since the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining
