For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels mostly depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Rhythm and Personal Development
One of this movie's greatest strengths is its superb pacing. It begins using a striking opening sequence in which a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted by a van crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see the family before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know its main personalities prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. The family head consists of her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could sound like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film to showing us the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently presents characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise once events finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and various household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before making a sudden shift into shocking territory. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to settle into the setting prior to it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the movie had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect this condition produces on humans is utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite convincing, and they're practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some instances of dubious choices (like any typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like prey in headlights while danger nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters express gratitude toward one another feel much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering frights. Yet these are effective scares, and since the film gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining
