Generally speaking, I've grown tired of undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems mostly depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Character Development
One of the film's greatest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It begins using a memorable initial scene in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a van plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient time to get to know the primary personalities before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and who enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. The family patriarch is her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is extremely strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so invested with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot this was a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every relative represents, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits enabled me to relate with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently presents individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a real shock when things finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy before taking an abrupt turn into shocking territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives enough opportunity to settle into the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
The film also offers a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a new batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a lethal potion which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this condition produces on humans proves utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and are almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
Even better compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some instances of questionable decision-making (as in typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves 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 blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like prey caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, this proved a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters do show appreciation toward one another seem far more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are effective scares, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining
