Generally speaking, I'm over zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels largely 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, managed to subvert my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth
One of this movie's greatest strengths is its superb rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family before the tragedy struck.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough time to become acquainted with its main characters before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured but socially awkward, and he loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime depicting viewers who each family member is, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often introduces characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, so it's a genuine surprise once events finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to taking an abrupt turn into shocking ground. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives enough opportunity to immerse in the setting before everything gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
The film additionally presents a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease originates in a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the impact this affliction produces on humans is utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are a few examples of dubious choices (like any typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument is available rather than freezing like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters do show appreciation for each other feel far more genuine.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're successful scares, and because the film allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining
