For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category seems mostly depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Personal Development
Among this movie's greatest strengths is its superb rhythm. It begins using a striking initial scene in which a calm family party is violently interrupted by a van plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough opportunity to get to know its main personalities before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. This household head is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely tense.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime to showing viewers who each family member represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities allowed the audience to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine shock once events eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy prior to taking an abrupt shift into shocking ground. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to settle into the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Origin
This movie additionally presents a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the movie had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the impact this affliction has on people proves absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite convincing, and are almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of questionable choices (like any typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger approaches.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another feel far more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message regarding relatives or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are effective scares, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable
