Typically, I've had my fill of undead films. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels largely depleted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Character Development
Among the film's greatest assets lies in the superb pacing. It begins using a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking individual emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see the family prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough opportunity to get to know the primary characters before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has understandably caused a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. This household head consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime depicting viewers who each family member represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed me to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat in a genre which frequently introduces characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a real shock once events finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various family interactions actually evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy prior to taking an abrupt shift into shocking ground. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient time to immerse in its world before everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Origin
This movie additionally presents a quite interesting reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect this condition has on people is absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
More impressive than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of dubious choices (as in any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like prey in headlights as death nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, 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 often seen in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to resentment 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 level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals express gratitude toward one another seem much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're successful scares, and since the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
