For the most part, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels largely exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. However, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Personal Growth
One of this movie's greatest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It begins using a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering is violently interrupted by a van plows into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. This has understandably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. The family head is her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two things: his business and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime depicting viewers who each relative is, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits enabled me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare feat in a genre that often presents individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a real surprise once events eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy before taking an abrupt turn into shocking ground. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough time to immerse in its world before everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Origin
The film also offers a quite interesting reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, I wish the film devoted additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to producing a deadly potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited context, the effect this condition produces on humans proves absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and are practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
More impressive than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some instances of dubious decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of freezing like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming into zombies, this proved 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 frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes those instances where these individuals express appreciation for each other seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are successful scares, and because the movie gives each character enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining
