For the most part, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Character Development
One of this movie's greatest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It begins using a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see this household prior to the tragedy struck.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough time to get to know the primary characters prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably caused a falling out among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. The family head consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on just two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film to showing viewers the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled the audience to connect to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat in a genre that often introduces characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and various household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to making a sudden turn into "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough time to settle into its world before it gets upended.
Unique Infection Origin
The film also offers a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this condition produces on humans is utterly disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
Even better than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of dubious decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument is available rather than freezing like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. 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 brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message about family or community, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful scares, and because the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
