For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels mostly exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Growth
Among the film's greatest strengths is its excellent pacing. It begins using a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted when a van plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to see this household before the tragedy struck.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough time to get to know the primary personalities before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but socially awkward, and who enjoys gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. This household head consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two things: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime depicting viewers who each family member is, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, so it's a real shock when things finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama with slightly dark humor prior to making an abrupt shift into "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to settle into the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Original Infection Origin
This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this affliction has on people proves absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and they're practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some instances of dubious choices (like any any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object they find instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering frights. Yet these are effective scares, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is an engaging and entertaining
