Generally speaking, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Character Growth
One of this movie's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see this household before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with its main characters before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. This has understandably caused a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and he loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two things: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every relative represents, and how they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to connect to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat in a genre that often presents individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy prior to taking a sudden turn into shocking territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Original Infection Origin
This movie also offers a quite intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of context, the impact this condition produces on humans is utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and are practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some examples of dubious choices (as in typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest heavy object is available instead of freezing like prey in headlights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters do show gratitude for each other feel far more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or community, 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 avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and enjoyable
