Generally speaking, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems largely exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Personal Growth
Among this movie's strongest strengths is its excellent pacing. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a van plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe this household before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives viewers sufficient time to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. 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 who loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household head consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime to showing us who each family member represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a real shock once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama with slightly dark humor before making a sudden turn toward "holy shit" ground. These early scenes don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives enough time to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the movie devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the impact this condition produces on humans proves utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some examples of dubious choices (like any any good undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation for each other seem much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message regarding relatives or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're successful scares, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining
