For the most part, I'm over undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems mostly exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. However, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Character Development
One of the film's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence where a calm family gathering is violently interrupted when a van plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the tragedy occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough time to get to know its main personalities prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. This has predictably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot this was a horror film—which might sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film depicting us the identity of every relative represents, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled me to connect with the characters enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often introduces characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a real surprise when things finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to taking an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient time to settle into its world prior to it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
The film also offers a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding how it started, I wish the film had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited context, the effect this condition produces on humans is absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are a few instances of questionable choices (as in typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object is available rather than freezing like prey in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes those instances when these characters do show appreciation for each other seem far more genuine.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight about family or society, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering frights. Yet these are effective frights, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and entertaining
