For the most part, I've grown tired of undead films. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels largely depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth
Among this movie's strongest strengths is its superb pacing. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family party is violently interrupted by a van plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense moment is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to see the family before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough time to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and he enjoys gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. The family head is her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime to showing us who each relative represents, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled me to connect with the characters enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat in a genre that often presents individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine shock once events eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and various household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before making a sudden shift into "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient time to immerse in the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Source
The film also offers a quite intriguing reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although some background is provided something regarding how it started, I wish the movie had spent a little more time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the effect this condition has on humans proves absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
Even better than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of questionable decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find rather than standing still like prey in headlights as death nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters express gratitude toward one another seem far more genuine.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message about family or community, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful scares, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
