Typically, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems largely exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Character Growth
One of this movie's greatest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a striking initial scene where a calm family gathering is violently disrupted by a van crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual emerges and begins attacking the attendees. This intense scene is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household prior to the tragedy occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with its main characters prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. The family head consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot I was watching a horror film—which might sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film to showing us who each family member is, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits allowed the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently presents characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, so it's a real surprise when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor before making an abrupt turn toward shocking territory. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to immerse in its world before everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Source
The film also offers a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While we do learn something regarding how it started, I wish the movie devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion which seems to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this affliction produces on people proves utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and they're practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of questionable decision-making (as in any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find instead of freezing like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals express appreciation toward one another feel far more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are effective scares, and because the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
