For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Character Development
Among this movie's strongest strengths is its excellent pacing. It begins using a striking opening sequence in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a van crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives viewers sufficient time to get to know its main personalities before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted but socially awkward, and he loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. The family head is her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot this was a horror film—which might sound like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of the film to showing us the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits enabled the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre that often introduces individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, so it's a real surprise when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to making a sudden turn into shocking territory. These introductory moments aren't centered as much on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to immerse in the setting before everything gets upended.
Original Infection Source
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the movie had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly potion that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the impact this affliction produces on humans is absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and are almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of questionable choices (as in typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object they find instead of standing still like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters do show gratitude toward one another feel far more genuine.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message about family or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're effective scares, and because the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining
