Typically, I've grown tired of undead films. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels largely depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. However, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Development
Among this movie's strongest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a striking initial scene where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe the family prior to the tragedy struck.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough opportunity to get to know its main personalities prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has predictably led to a rift between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. This household head is Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, but in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime depicting us the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often presents characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a real shock once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before making a sudden shift into shocking territory. These early moments don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to settle into its world before everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Origin
This movie additionally presents a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the film had spent additional time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this affliction has on people proves utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and are almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of questionable choices (like any any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another feel far more sincere.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're successful scares, and because the film allows every personality enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and enjoyable
