Generally speaking, I'm over zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels largely depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Character Growth
One of the film's strongest assets is its superb pacing. It begins with a memorable initial scene where a calm family gathering is violently disrupted when a van crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the tragedy struck.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough time to become acquainted with its main characters before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. This has understandably led to a rift between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household head is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who seems focused on only two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot this was a horror film—something that could sound like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime to showing us who each relative is, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat in a genre that often presents characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a real surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy prior to making a sudden shift into "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives enough opportunity to settle into its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Origin
The film also offers a quite interesting explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, I wish the film had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of background, the impact this affliction has on humans proves utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and are practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of dubious decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, 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 all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals express gratitude toward one another feel far more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight about family or community, as well. Rather, it's primarily delivering frights. But they're effective scares, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
