Generally speaking, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category feels largely depleted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Character Growth
One of this movie's strongest assets is its excellent pacing. It kicks off with a striking initial scene in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a van plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know its main personalities prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. This household head consists of her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so invested in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, but in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of the film to showing us who each family member is, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities allowed the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently presents individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, so it's a real shock when things eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy prior to making a sudden turn into "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient time to settle into its world prior to it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the film had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly potion that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this affliction has on humans proves utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and are practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of questionable choices (as in any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than freezing like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they decide over the phone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters express gratitude for each other feel far more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message about family or community, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. But they're successful frights, and since the film gives each character enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable
