For the most part, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels mostly exhausted 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 zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
One of this movie's strongest assets is its excellent rhythm. It begins with a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household before the tragedy struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably caused a rift among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and he loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime depicting viewers who each family member represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing traits allowed me to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often presents characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, so it's a real surprise once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to taking a sudden shift toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient time to settle into its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
The film additionally presents a fairly interesting reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the film devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this condition produces on humans proves absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and are almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
More impressive than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of dubious decision-making (like any typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object they find rather than standing still like prey caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters do show appreciation for each other feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight about family or society, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are effective frights, and because the movie gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and enjoyable
