Generally speaking, I've grown tired of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Growth
Among the film's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It begins using a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted when a van plows into the seating section. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives viewers sufficient time to get to know its main characters before the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably caused a rift among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family head consists of Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely tense.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot this was a horror film—which might seem like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon feat in a genre that often presents individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine shock when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to taking a sudden shift toward shocking territory. These early moments don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to settle into its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Source
The film additionally presents a quite intriguing reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding how it started, I wish the film had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this condition has on people proves absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and are practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of questionable decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes those instances when these characters do show gratitude toward one another seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's primarily delivering frights. Yet these are successful frights, and since the film allows every personality enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
