Typically, I'm over zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels mostly depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Character Growth
One of this movie's strongest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It kicks off with a striking initial scene where a calm family party is violently disrupted when a van crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough time to get to know the primary personalities prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. The family head is her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime depicting us who each relative represents, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities allowed the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise once events eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to taking a sudden turn into shocking ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
The film additionally presents a quite intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the movie devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the impact this condition has on humans proves absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and are practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
Even better compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of dubious decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object is available rather than freezing like prey caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters do show gratitude toward one another seem much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight about family or community, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're effective frights, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining
