For the most part, I've grown tired of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category seems mostly depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's new Indonesian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Growth
Among this movie's strongest assets is its superb rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family party is violently disrupted when a vehicle crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to see this household before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary personalities prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and who loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a well-known herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two things: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so invested in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot this was a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of the film to showing viewers who each relative is, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed me to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre that often presents characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a real shock when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama with slightly dark humor before making an abrupt shift into "holy shit" territory. These early scenes aren't centered as much on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient time to immerse in the setting before it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
The film also offers a quite interesting reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the film devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this condition has on people is absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring choice, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and are almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of dubious decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another feel far more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. Yet these are effective frights, and because the film allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
