Typically, I've had my fill of undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems largely exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. However, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Character Growth
One of the film's greatest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It begins using a striking initial scene where a calm family gathering is violently disrupted when a vehicle plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see the family before the disaster struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough time to become acquainted with its main personalities before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. This has understandably led to a rift among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. This household patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of the film to showing us who each family member is, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits enabled the audience to connect to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare feat for this style which frequently introduces individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to devour, so it's a genuine surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to making an abrupt shift into "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments aren't centered as much on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Original Infection Origin
This movie additionally presents a quite interesting reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although some background is provided something regarding how it started, I wish the film had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly potion which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the effect this affliction produces on humans is utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and they're almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some instances of dubious choices (like any any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object they find rather than standing still like prey in headlights while danger nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another feel far more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message regarding relatives or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're effective frights, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
