Typically, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category seems mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Growth
One of this movie's greatest strengths is its superb rhythm. It begins using a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted by a vehicle plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see the family before the disaster occurred.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient time to get to know the primary characters prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. This household patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so invested with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled me to relate to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often presents characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a real shock when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and various family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to taking an abrupt shift toward shocking territory. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to it gets upended.
Original Infection Origin
The film additionally presents a quite intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the film had spent a little more time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this condition has on humans proves utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and are almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of dubious choices (like any typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously 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 promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals express appreciation toward one another feel far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are effective scares, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and entertaining
