Typically, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Development
One of the film's strongest strengths is its superb rhythm. It begins with a memorable initial scene where a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is then followed by a look back, allowing us to see the family before the tragedy struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know its main characters prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. This household head is Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so invested in the household's issues and their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked this was a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime to showing viewers who each relative is, and how they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed me to relate with the characters enough to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently presents individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine shock once events eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before taking an abrupt turn into shocking ground. These early scenes aren't centered as much on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to immerse in its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
The film also offers a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the film devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the impact this condition produces on people is absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of questionable choices (like any typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available instead of freezing like prey in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, this proved a welcome realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters express appreciation for each other seem much more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message about family or community, as well. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're effective scares, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and enjoyable
