Typically, 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 seems mostly depleted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
Among the film's greatest strengths is its superb rhythm. It begins using a striking initial scene in which a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a van plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see the family before the tragedy struck.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know its main characters prior to the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably led to a rift between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and who loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I almost forgot this was a horror film—which might seem like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime depicting us the identity of every family member is, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon feat for this style that often presents individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, so it's a real shock once events eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy before making a sudden shift toward "holy shit" ground. These early moments aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to settle into its world prior to everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Origin
The film also offers a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the movie had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of background, the impact this condition has on humans proves utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and are almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of dubious choices (as in any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find instead of freezing like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome 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!" trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances where these individuals express appreciation for each other seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message about family or community, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful scares, and because the movie gives each character enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and enjoyable
