For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. However, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated turning out quite entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Character Development
One of the film's greatest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence where a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle plows into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe this household before the disaster occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with its main personalities before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably caused a falling out among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but socially awkward, and he loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. The family patriarch is her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film to showing us the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits enabled me to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often presents characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a real surprise once events eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy before making an abrupt turn toward shocking ground. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to settle into its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided something regarding how it started, I wish the film had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to producing a deadly potion which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this affliction has on people proves absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, there are a few instances of dubious choices (as in any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. 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 is available rather than standing still like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters do show appreciation for each other seem much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message regarding relatives or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're successful scares, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
