For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category seems largely depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. However, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Development
One of the film's strongest strengths is its excellent pacing. It begins using a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted by a van crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family prior to the tragedy occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably led to a falling out among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family head is her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two things: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked this was a horror film—something that could sound like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime to showing us who each relative is, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, so it's a real surprise when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and various family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy before making a sudden shift toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to settle into the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Origin
The film also offers a quite intriguing reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this condition produces on humans proves utterly disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and are practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of dubious decision-making (as in any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger approaches.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they decide over the phone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters express gratitude for each other seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are successful 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
