Typically, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels largely depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. However, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Superb Rhythm and Character Development
Among this movie's strongest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins with a memorable opening sequence where a calm family party is violently interrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household prior to the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary personalities prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has understandably led to a rift between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so invested with this household's issues and their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime depicting us who each relative represents, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to connect to the personalities enough to care about their fate—a rare feat in a genre which frequently presents individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine shock when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before taking an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments don't focus as much on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to settle into the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Origin
This movie also offers a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding how it started, I wish the movie devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of context, the impact this affliction has on people is utterly disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and are practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are a few instances of questionable decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters express gratitude toward one another seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight about family or society, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're effective frights, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and enjoyable
