Generally speaking, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems mostly depleted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Character Growth
Among this movie's strongest strengths is its excellent rhythm. It begins using a memorable opening sequence where a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a van plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household before the disaster occurred.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has predictably caused a rift between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and who loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two aspects: his business and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so invested with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly forgot I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of the film depicting viewers the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare feat in a genre that often introduces individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a real surprise once events finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to making a sudden turn toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to settle into the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Source
This movie also offers a quite intriguing reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the effect this affliction produces on humans proves absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of questionable choices (as in typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like prey in headlights while danger approaches.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters express appreciation for each other feel much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message regarding relatives or community, as well. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are successful scares, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
