For the most part, I'm over zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, 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. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Growth
Among the film's greatest assets is its excellent pacing. It begins with a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family before the disaster struck.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers sufficient time to get to know the primary characters prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. This has predictably led to a falling out among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family head consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so invested with this household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of the film to showing viewers the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities allowed me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently presents individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy prior to taking a sudden turn into "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient time to settle into its world before it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
The film also offers a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the movie had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this affliction produces on humans proves utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite convincing, and are almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
Even better than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of dubious choices (as in typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like a deer in headlights as death approaches.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion 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 loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters express appreciation toward one another seem much more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight about family or society, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are successful scares, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
