Typically, I'm over zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Rhythm and Character Development
One of the film's strongest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It begins with a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family party is violently disrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to observe this household before the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and who enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two things: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime depicting us who each family member represents, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently presents characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, so it's a real surprise once events finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama with slightly dark humor before making a sudden shift toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient time to immerse in the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
This movie also offers a quite interesting explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While we do learn something regarding how it started, I wish the film had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this affliction has on humans proves utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and are almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
Even better than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of dubious choices (as in any good undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude for each other feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight about family or community, as well. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are effective scares, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome proves a captivating and enjoyable
