Generally speaking, I'm over zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Character Growth
Among this movie's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe the family before the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough time to get to know the primary personalities prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has understandably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. The family patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every family member is, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed the audience to relate with the characters enough to care about their fate—a rare feat for this style that often introduces individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a genuine shock once events eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy prior to making a sudden shift into shocking territory. These introductory moments aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to settle into the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the movie had spent a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal potion that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the effect this condition has on humans proves absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some examples of questionable choices (like any typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals express appreciation for each other feel much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are successful frights, and because the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and enjoyable
