Typically, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although classics like 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 gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Development
One of the film's strongest assets is its superb pacing. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household before the disaster struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably led to a falling out among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and who enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. This household patriarch is her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues and their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of the film to showing us who each family member is, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits enabled the audience to connect with the characters enough to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a real surprise once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama with slightly dark humor prior to making an abrupt turn into "holy shit" ground. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to settle into its world before everything gets upended.
Unique Infection Origin
The film also offers a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted additional time on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to producing a lethal potion that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this affliction produces on people proves utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some examples of dubious decision-making (like any any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters do show gratitude toward one another seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are effective frights, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and entertaining
