Generally speaking, I'm over zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems mostly depleted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved quite entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Development
Among this movie's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence where a calm family party is violently interrupted by a van crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household prior to the tragedy struck.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary characters prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. The family head is her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime to showing us who each relative represents, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed me to relate to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare feat in a genre which frequently introduces individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to making a sudden shift into "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this affliction has on people is absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and are almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some instances of dubious decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument is available instead of freezing like prey in headlights as death approaches.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances where these individuals express appreciation toward one another feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're successful frights, and since the movie gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining
