Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels mostly depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. However, the platform's new Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Rhythm and Personal Development
Among the film's greatest strengths is its superb pacing. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe this household before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family head consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on only two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so invested in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film depicting viewers the identity of every family member is, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed me to relate to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare feat for this style that often introduces characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before taking a sudden turn toward shocking ground. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to immerse in its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie also offers a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect this affliction has on humans is absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some instances of dubious choices (like any typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, which was a welcome realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters do show appreciation toward one another seem far more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are effective scares, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is an engaging and entertaining
