For the most part, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth
Among the film's strongest strengths is its superb pacing. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene in which a calm family gathering is violently interrupted when a van plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough time to become acquainted with its main personalities before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. This household head is Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who seems focused on only two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so engrossed with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film to showing viewers the identity of every relative represents, and how they add to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing traits allowed me to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare feat in a genre that often introduces individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a real surprise when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a story that masquerades like a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to taking a sudden turn toward "holy shit" territory. These early moments don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting prior to it gets upended.
Original Infection Origin
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this condition has on people proves utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite convincing, and they're practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
Even better than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of questionable decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like prey caught in lights while danger approaches.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters express gratitude for each other seem far more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message about family or community, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're effective scares, and because the film allows every personality enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining
