For the most part, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems largely depleted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for months. However, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Rhythm and Character Growth
One of the film's strongest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle plows into the seating section. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see this household before the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose former close friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two things: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film to showing us the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to connect to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style that often introduces individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor before taking an abrupt shift into "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments aren't centered as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough time to settle into the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
This movie also offers a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the film had spent additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir which seems to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited background, the impact this condition has on people proves utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and are practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of questionable decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find rather than freezing like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters express appreciation for each other seem much more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight about family or society, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're effective frights, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
