For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels mostly depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Personal Development
One of the film's greatest assets is its excellent rhythm. It begins using a memorable opening sequence where a calm family party is violently interrupted by a van crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe this household before the disaster struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so invested with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film to showing us the identity of every family member is, and how they add to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed the audience to relate to the personalities enough to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often introduces characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a real shock once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy before taking an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough time to settle into its world before everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the film devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited background, the impact this condition has on people proves utterly disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and are almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are a few instances of dubious choices (like any any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument is available rather than freezing like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome authentic 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 apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude for each other seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message about family or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. But they're successful frights, and since the film allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is an engaging and enjoyable
