Typically, I've grown tired of zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems largely depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting 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 entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth
One of the film's strongest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off with a striking initial scene where a peaceful family gathering is violently interrupted when a van crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household before the disaster struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient time to get to know its main personalities prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. This has predictably led to a falling out between the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. The family head is her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so invested with this household's issues and their personal conflicts that I almost forgot I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film to showing viewers who each family member represents, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to connect with the characters enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often introduces individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a real surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor before taking an abrupt shift toward shocking ground. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to settle into its world prior to it gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
The film also offers a fairly interesting explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this condition has on people proves absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies 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 very realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of questionable choices (like any typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger approaches.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic subversion from that "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 end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another feel much more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's primarily delivering frights. But they're successful frights, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and entertaining