Generally speaking, I've grown tired of undead films. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category seems mostly exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for months. However, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Rhythm and Character Development
One of this movie's strongest assets is its superb rhythm. It begins using a striking initial scene where a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family before the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough time to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has understandably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. This household head consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime to showing us who each relative represents, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed me to relate to the personalities enough to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently presents characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine shock once events eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and various family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy before taking an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" ground. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives enough time to immerse in its world prior to everything gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a quite intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the movie had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the impact this condition produces on humans proves utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and are practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
Even better than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some instances of dubious choices (like any typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like prey in headlights while danger approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, this proved a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters express gratitude toward one another feel much more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message about family or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're successful frights, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining
