Generally speaking, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels largely depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth
Among the film's strongest assets is its excellent pacing. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene where a calm family party is violently disrupted by a van crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see this household prior to the tragedy struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient time to get to know the primary personalities before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. The family head is her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so invested with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film depicting us the identity of every family member is, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed me to relate with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often presents individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine shock once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to taking a sudden shift toward shocking ground. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to immerse in its world prior to it gets upended.
Original Infection Origin
This movie also offers a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this condition has on humans is utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and are practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, there are a few examples of dubious choices (as in typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object they find instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another feel far more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight about family or society, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are successful scares, and since the movie gives each character enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining
