Typically, I've grown tired of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems mostly depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth
Among the film's strongest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a striking initial scene in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know its main characters before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. This has understandably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. This household head is Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he seems focused on only two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every relative is, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits enabled me to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat for this style that often presents individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a real surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various family interactions actually evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to making a sudden turn into shocking ground. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to settle into its world before everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Origin
The film additionally presents a fairly interesting explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the effect this condition has on humans is absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
Even better than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of dubious decision-making (like any any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another seem much more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or community, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're successful scares, and since the movie gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and enjoyable
