For the most part, I've had my fill of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category feels largely depleted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Development
Among the film's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a striking initial scene where a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough opportunity to get to know the primary characters prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably caused a falling out among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and he loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. The family patriarch is her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues and their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked this was a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film depicting us who each family member represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare feat for this style which frequently introduces characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine surprise once events finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy prior to taking an abrupt shift into shocking territory. These introductory moments don't focus as much on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting before it gets upended.
Original Infection Source
The film also offers a quite interesting reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this affliction has on humans is utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and are practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some examples of questionable decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find rather than freezing like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another seem much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're effective scares, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
