Generally speaking, I've grown tired of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels mostly depleted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out quite entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Personal Development
Among this movie's strongest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It kicks off using a striking initial scene where a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a van plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense moment is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household prior to the tragedy occurred.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and he loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. This household head consists of her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot this was a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime depicting viewers who each family member is, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities allowed the audience to relate to the personalities enough to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently presents characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, so it's a real surprise once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor before taking an abrupt shift into "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
The film additionally presents a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the film devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the impact this affliction has on humans is utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of questionable decision-making (like any any good undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find instead of freezing like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances where these individuals express appreciation for each other seem far more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight about family or community, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are successful scares, and since the film allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
