For the most part, I've had my fill of undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems mostly depleted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Growth
Among the film's greatest assets is its superb rhythm. It kicks off using a striking initial scene in which a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted by a van plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger emerges and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see this household prior to the disaster struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. This has predictably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family head is her dad, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every family member is, and how they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often presents characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a real shock when things finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy before making a sudden turn toward "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 its world before it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie also offers a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a new batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the film devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir which seems to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of background, the effect this condition has on humans proves utterly disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some instances of questionable choices (as in any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object they find rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, which was a welcome authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters express gratitude toward one another seem far more sincere.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're successful scares, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and entertaining
