Generally speaking, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Personal Development
One of the film's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a memorable opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted when a van crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household before the disaster occurred.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient time to get to know the primary personalities prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has understandably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. This household head consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film to showing us who each relative is, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits enabled me to relate with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, so it's a real surprise once events eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to making a sudden turn into "holy shit" ground. These early moments don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient time to settle into its world before everything gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
The film also offers a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly potion that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this condition produces on humans is absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and are almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of questionable decision-making (like any any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find rather than freezing like prey in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters express appreciation for each other feel much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. Yet these are successful frights, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and enjoyable
