For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels largely depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Development
Among the film's strongest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted when a vehicle plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household prior to the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough opportunity to get to know the primary characters prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. This has predictably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and who loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on only two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so invested with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime depicting us who each relative represents, and how they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare feat in a genre that often presents characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a real shock once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and various family interactions actually evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor before making a sudden turn into shocking territory. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to immerse in its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Origin
This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the movie had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this affliction has on humans proves utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
Even better compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of dubious decision-making (like any typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find rather than standing still like prey in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they decide over the phone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters do show gratitude for each other feel far more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message about family or society, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're effective scares, and since the film allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and enjoyable