For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels largely exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's latest Indonesian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Among the film's greatest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a striking opening sequence in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is then followed by a look back, allowing us to observe this household before the disaster struck.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know its main characters prior to the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, 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 cheated on Nes. The family head is Nes' father, the owner of a popular herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.
I became so invested with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked this was a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime depicting us the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities enabled the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently introduces individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real surprise once events finally go wrong.
The opening sequences from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to making a sudden turn toward shocking territory. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly potion which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of background, the impact this affliction produces on people proves absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and they're almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Even better than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of dubious choices (like any typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available instead of standing still like a deer in headlights as death nears.
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close 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—flawed as it is—seem authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another seem much more genuine.
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight about family or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. Yet these are effective scares, and since the film gives each character enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining
A tech enthusiast and software developer with a passion for AI and machine learning, sharing insights from years of industry experience.
