Generally speaking, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Development
Among the film's greatest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off using a memorable opening sequence where a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a van plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see the family prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two things: his business and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot this was a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime depicting us who each family member represents, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing traits allowed me to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style that often introduces characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise once events finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor before taking a sudden shift into shocking ground. These early moments don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough time to immerse in the setting before it gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Source
The film also offers a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, I wish the movie devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this affliction produces on humans is absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of questionable decision-making (like any any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find rather than freezing like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals express gratitude toward one another feel far more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight about family or society, as well. Rather, it's primarily delivering frights. But they're effective frights, and since the movie gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining
