Generally speaking, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category seems largely depleted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Growth
One of the film's greatest assets is its superb pacing. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough time to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime depicting us the identity of every relative represents, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled me to connect with the characters enough to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often presents individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, so it's a real surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various household exchanges actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama with slightly dark humor before making a sudden turn toward shocking territory. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of context, the impact this affliction produces on humans is absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and are almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
Even better compared to the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of dubious choices (like any any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like prey in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters express appreciation for each other seem much more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message about family or community, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're successful scares, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
