Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems mostly depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Rhythm and Character Growth
Among the film's strongest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering is violently interrupted when a van crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking individual emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to see the family prior to the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient time to become acquainted with its main characters before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has understandably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured but socially awkward, and he enjoys gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I almost forgot this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, so it's a real surprise once events eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy before taking a sudden shift toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to settle into the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Original Infection Origin
This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this affliction has on people proves utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring decision, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and are almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of dubious decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like prey caught in lights while danger approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters do show appreciation toward one another seem much more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are effective scares, and since the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
