Typically, I've grown tired of undead films. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category feels largely depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Personal Development
One of the film's greatest strengths is its excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient time to get to know its main characters before the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and who loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. This household head is Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two aspects: his business and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime depicting us the identity of every relative represents, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a real shock once events eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy before making an abrupt shift toward shocking territory. These early moments don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient time to settle into its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this condition has on humans is absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of dubious choices (like any any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available rather than freezing like prey in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals express appreciation for each other feel much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up frights. But they're successful scares, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
