For the most part, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth
One of this movie's strongest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle plows into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see the family before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough time to get to know the primary personalities before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. This has predictably led to a falling out between the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household head consists of Nes' father, the owner of a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two things: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so invested with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I almost forgot this was a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime to showing viewers who each family member is, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare feat for this style which frequently introduces individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a genuine surprise when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to taking a sudden shift into "holy shit" ground. These early moments don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough time to settle into its world before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Origin
The film also offers a fairly interesting reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect this affliction has on people proves absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and they're almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
More impressive than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of questionable choices (like any any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters do show gratitude toward one another seem far more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight about family or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. Yet these are effective frights, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
