Typically, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels largely depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Development
Among this movie's strongest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence in which a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the disaster struck.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough opportunity to get to know its main personalities prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has understandably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but socially awkward, and he loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. The family patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on just two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot this was a horror film—something that could sound like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime depicting viewers who each relative represents, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat in a genre that often introduces individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine shock when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to making a sudden turn toward shocking ground. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to immerse in the setting before it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this affliction produces on humans proves utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and are practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
Even better than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of questionable choices (as in typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find rather than standing still like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals express gratitude for each other seem much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or community, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are effective scares, and since the film gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
