For the most part, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems mostly depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved quite entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Development
One of this movie's greatest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It begins using a striking initial scene where a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This intense moment is then followed by a look back, allowing us to observe the family prior to the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient time to get to know its main personalities prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. 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 who enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked this was a horror film—which might seem like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime to showing us who each family member is, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing traits enabled me to relate with the characters enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat in a genre that often presents characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a real surprise when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to making a sudden shift into "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to immerse in its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Source
The film additionally presents a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the effect this affliction produces on humans is absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and are almost certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of dubious decision-making (like any any good undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, which was a welcome realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters express gratitude toward one another seem much more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight about family or community, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are effective frights, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable
