For the most part, I'm over zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems largely exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
Among this movie's strongest strengths is its superb rhythm. It begins using a memorable initial scene where a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted by a van crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family before the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough time to become acquainted with its main characters before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. The family head consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly 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 us who each relative represents, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities allowed the audience to relate with the characters enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style that often presents individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a real shock when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to taking an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" territory. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to immerse in its world before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect this affliction has on humans proves absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and they're almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
Even better compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of dubious decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like prey caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives 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 gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—seem authentic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation for each other seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. Yet these are effective scares, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining
