Typically, I'm over undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems largely depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Superb Rhythm and Character Development
One of the film's strongest assets lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off using a memorable opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to observe the family before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know its main personalities before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has predictably caused a rift among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and who loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. This household patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he seems focused on just two aspects: his business 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 family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of the film to showing viewers who each relative represents, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities allowed the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often presents characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine shock once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and various family interactions actually 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 toward shocking ground. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to immerse in the setting before everything gets upended.
Original Infection Source
The film additionally presents a quite intriguing reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the movie had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this condition has on humans proves utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and they're practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
Even better than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some examples of dubious choices (as in any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes those instances when these characters do show gratitude toward one another seem much more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're successful scares, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable
