Typically, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. However, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Development
Among this movie's strongest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a memorable opening sequence where a calm family gathering is violently disrupted when a vehicle plows into the seating section. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the disaster struck.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough time to get to know its main characters before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably caused a falling out among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and who loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. This household patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so invested in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film depicting viewers who each family member represents, and how they add to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently presents individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine shock when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to making a sudden shift toward shocking territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world before it gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
The film also offers a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the film had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of background, the impact this affliction produces on humans is utterly disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and they're almost certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of dubious decision-making (like any typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, which was a welcome realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters express appreciation for each other seem much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. Yet these are effective frights, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining
