Generally speaking, I've had my fill of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category feels largely depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Development
Among this movie's strongest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins with a memorable opening sequence where a calm family gathering is violently interrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense moment is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see this household prior to the tragedy occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient time to get to know its main characters prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has predictably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. The family head is her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so invested in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot this was a horror film—which might sound like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime to showing us who each family member is, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled the audience to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style that often presents individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a genuine surprise once events finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and various family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama with slightly dark humor before making a sudden shift into "holy shit" ground. These early moments don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient time to settle into the setting before it gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
The film additionally presents a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease originates in a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this affliction produces on humans is absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and are practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some examples of questionable decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like prey in headlights as death approaches.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters do show gratitude for each other feel far more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight about family or society, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're effective scares, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
