For the most part, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Character Development
Among the film's greatest assets lies in the superb pacing. It begins using a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe this household before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives viewers sufficient time to get to know the primary personalities prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. This household head is Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film depicting viewers who each relative is, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed me to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently presents individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise once events finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor before taking a sudden turn toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient time to immerse in its world prior to it gets upended.
Original Infection Source
The film also offers a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding how it started, I wish the film devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited context, the effect this condition produces on humans is absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and are almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
Even better than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are a few instances of questionable decision-making (like any typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object is available 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 start turning into zombies, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—seem authentic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals express gratitude for each other feel much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message about family or society, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are successful scares, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and enjoyable
