For the most part, I'm over zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Rhythm and Personal Development
One of the film's greatest strengths is its superb rhythm. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering is violently interrupted by a van crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household prior to the tragedy occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough time to get to know its main personalities prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has predictably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. This household head is Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so invested with this household's issues and their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime to showing viewers who each relative is, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled me to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare feat for this style which frequently introduces individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy before taking a sudden turn toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to settle into the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Original Infection Origin
The film additionally presents a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited background, the impact this affliction produces on people is absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
More impressive than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are a few instances of dubious choices (like any typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available instead of freezing like prey in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude for each other feel far more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're successful scares, and since the film gives each character enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and enjoyable
