Generally speaking, I've grown tired of undead films. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet 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 my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth
One of this movie's strongest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It begins using a striking initial scene where a calm family gathering is violently disrupted by a van crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This intense scene is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family before the disaster occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough time to become acquainted with the primary characters before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has predictably led to a falling out among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family head consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime depicting us who each relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits allowed me to connect to the personalities enough to care about their fate—a rare feat in a genre that often presents individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a real shock when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy prior to making a sudden shift toward shocking territory. These early moments don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting before it gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
The film additionally presents a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, I wish the movie devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect this affliction produces on people proves utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and are practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of dubious choices (like any any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like a deer in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people begin transforming to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals express appreciation toward one another seem much more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight about family or community, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. Yet these are effective scares, and since the film gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
