For the most part, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category feels largely depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated turning out quite entertaining.
Superb Rhythm and Character Growth
One of the film's greatest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household prior to the tragedy occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient time to get to know the primary personalities before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. This has predictably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. The family patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on only two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested in the household's issues and their personal conflicts that I almost forgot this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine shock once events eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy before making an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" ground. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to immerse in the setting before it gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Source
The film additionally presents a fairly interesting reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease originates in a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the movie devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the impact this condition produces on humans proves absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and are practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
Even better than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of dubious choices (as in typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find rather than standing still like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict 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 so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for 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. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude for each other feel much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering frights. But they're effective frights, and since the film allows every personality enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
