Generally speaking, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth
One of this movie's strongest assets is its superb rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable opening sequence where a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking individual emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see the family prior to the disaster occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary characters prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has predictably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he seems focused on only two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked this was a horror film—which might sound like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film to showing us who each family member represents, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities allowed the audience to connect to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style which frequently introduces characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to making a sudden turn toward shocking territory. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to settle into its world prior to it gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the movie devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the impact this affliction has on humans proves absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and are almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of dubious choices (as in any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest heavy object is available instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals express gratitude toward one another seem much more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are successful scares, and since the movie gives each character enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining
