For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Growth
Among the film's greatest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family gathering is violently disrupted by a vehicle crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough time to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. This has predictably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and who loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is extremely strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of the film to showing viewers who each family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style that often presents individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a real surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and various household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to taking a sudden shift into shocking territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough time to settle into its world before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
The film also offers a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the film had spent a little more time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly potion which seems to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited background, the impact this condition has on humans is absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of questionable decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available instead of standing still like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters express appreciation for each other feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're successful scares, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable
