For the most part, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category feels largely exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Character Development
Among this movie's strongest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence where a calm family party is violently interrupted when a van crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to see this household prior to the tragedy occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary characters before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has predictably caused a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and who loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family head is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two things: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime to showing us who each family member represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare feat for this style which frequently presents characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, so it's a genuine surprise when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to making a sudden turn toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough time to settle into the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this condition produces on people is utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and are almost certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some examples of dubious decision-making (as in any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming to the undead, 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 often seen in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message about family or community, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are successful scares, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and entertaining
