Typically, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Personal Development
One of the film's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It begins using a memorable opening sequence where a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to see the family prior to the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough time to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and who loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. The family patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime depicting us who each family member is, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled me to relate with the characters enough to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise once events eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and various household exchanges actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy before taking an abrupt turn toward shocking ground. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough time to immerse in its world before it gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
The film also offers a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding how it started, I wish the film had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this condition has on people is absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and they're almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of questionable choices (as in typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, which was a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters do show appreciation for each other feel far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. Yet these are effective scares, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is an engaging and entertaining
