For the most part, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category feels mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Character Growth
One of the film's greatest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off with a striking initial scene where a peaceful family party is violently interrupted when a vehicle plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family before the disaster occurred.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know its main characters before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family head consists of her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film to showing us who each family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits allowed the audience to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat in a genre that often presents individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before making a sudden shift toward "holy shit" territory. These early moments don't focus as much on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough time to settle into its world prior to it gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
The film also offers a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the film had spent a little more time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of background, the effect this affliction produces on humans is utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and are almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
Even better compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of questionable decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict once individuals begin transforming to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic 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!" cliché often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals express gratitude toward one another seem much more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight about family or society, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're effective frights, and since the film gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable
