Generally speaking, I've had my fill of undead films. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth
Among the film's greatest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a striking initial scene where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a van crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe the family prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough time to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. This has predictably led to a falling out among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. This household patriarch is her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so invested with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film depicting viewers the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare feat for this style which frequently introduces individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a real shock once events eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama with slightly dark humor before taking a sudden turn toward shocking ground. These early moments don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting before it gets upended.
Unique Infection Origin
This movie also offers a fairly interesting explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this condition has on humans is absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and are practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of dubious choices (as in any good undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find rather than freezing like prey in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters express appreciation toward one another feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're successful frights, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable
