Generally speaking, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. However, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated turning out quite entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Character Development
Among this movie's strongest strengths is its excellent rhythm. It begins with a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering is violently interrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense scene is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe the family before the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient time to get to know its main personalities before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on only two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested in the household's issues and their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of the film depicting us the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled me to connect with the characters enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat for this style which frequently presents individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a real shock when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before taking a sudden turn toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to settle into its world prior to it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
The film also offers a quite intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of context, the effect this condition produces on people proves utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and are practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are a few examples of questionable decision-making (as in any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters do show appreciation toward one another seem far more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're effective frights, and since the film allows every personality enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and entertaining
