Typically, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems largely depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Rhythm and Character Growth
One of this movie's greatest assets is its superb rhythm. It begins with a memorable opening sequence where a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient time to get to know its main characters prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and he enjoys gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two things: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of the film to showing viewers who each relative represents, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing traits enabled me to relate to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a real surprise when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy prior to making an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to settle into its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Source
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of background, the effect this affliction has on humans is absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and they're almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
Even better than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of dubious choices (like any any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like prey caught in lights while danger approaches.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude for each other seem much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message about family or society, as well. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. Yet these are effective scares, and because the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining
