Generally speaking, I'm over zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category feels mostly depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth
One of this movie's greatest strengths is its superb pacing. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence where a calm family party is violently interrupted when a vehicle plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see this household before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough time to become acquainted with its main personalities before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and who loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so invested with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime depicting us the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often presents individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before taking an abrupt shift into "holy shit" ground. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives enough time to immerse in the setting before it gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
The film also offers a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the effect this affliction produces on humans proves absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and are almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are a few instances of questionable choices (like any typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object is available instead of freezing like prey in headlights while danger approaches.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another feel far more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. But they're effective scares, and because the film allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining
