Typically, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems largely exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Superb Rhythm and Personal Development
One of this movie's greatest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins with a memorable opening sequence where a peaceful family party is violently disrupted by a vehicle plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household prior to the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough time to become acquainted with the primary characters before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. This has understandably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. The family patriarch is her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two aspects: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot this was a horror film—which might sound like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime to showing viewers who each relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to connect to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine shock when things eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various family interactions actually evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor before taking an abrupt shift into shocking territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to it gets upended.
Original Infection Origin
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly potion that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this affliction has on humans proves utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of dubious decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear 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 how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals express gratitude toward one another seem much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight about family or community, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're effective frights, and because the film gives each character enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
