Typically, I've grown tired of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth
One of the film's strongest assets lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene in which a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see this household prior to the disaster struck.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. This has understandably caused a falling out between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. The family head is Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he seems focused on only two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so invested with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked this was a horror film—which might seem like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film depicting us the identity of every family member represents, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to relate to the personalities enough to care about their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently presents characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a real surprise when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to making an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives enough time to settle into its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Origin
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the movie devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the effect this affliction has on humans is utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and are almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some instances of dubious decision-making (as in any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object is available instead of freezing like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, this proved a welcome authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters do show appreciation toward one another seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight about family or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are successful scares, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and entertaining
