Typically, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems largely depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Character Growth
One of this movie's greatest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene where a calm family gathering is violently disrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see the family before the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough opportunity to get to know its main personalities prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably caused a rift between the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch is her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on just two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so invested in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime to showing us the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits allowed me to connect with the characters enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often introduces individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a real surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama with slightly dark humor before taking an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" territory. These early scenes aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough time to immerse in the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
This movie also offers a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted additional time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of background, the impact this condition has on humans proves utterly disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of questionable decision-making (like any typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument is available rather than freezing like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals express gratitude toward one another seem far more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. Yet these are effective scares, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable
