Typically, I'm over undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems mostly depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth
One of this movie's strongest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family party is violently disrupted by a van crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to see the family before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and who loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family head is her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two aspects: his business and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked this was a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits enabled me to connect to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise once events eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and various family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to making a sudden shift toward "holy shit" territory. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient time to immerse in its world prior to it gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
This movie also offers a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly potion which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this condition produces on humans is absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
Even better than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of questionable decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes those instances when these characters express gratitude toward one another feel far more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message about family or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're successful frights, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable
