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 were gripping, this category seems largely depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for months. However, the platform's latest Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Growth
One of this movie's greatest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence where a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a van plows into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe the family before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably led to a falling out between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but socially awkward, and who loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on just two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot I was watching a horror film—something that could sound like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of the film to showing us the identity of every relative represents, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat in a genre that often presents individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, so it's a real surprise when things finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy before making a sudden turn toward shocking territory. These early scenes don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
The film additionally presents a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional time on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this condition has on humans is absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of questionable decision-making (like any any good undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like prey in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning 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 everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters do show appreciation for each other seem far more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message about family or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. Yet these are effective scares, and because the movie gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable
