Generally speaking, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels largely exhausted at this point. Even 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, managed to subvert my expectations and proved quite entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Personal Development
Among this movie's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see the family prior to the tragedy struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with its main characters before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and who enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household head consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime depicting viewers who each family member is, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often introduces individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine shock when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to taking a sudden turn into "holy shit" ground. These early moments don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough time to immerse in its world before everything gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
The film also offers a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a new batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the film had spent a little more time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly potion which seems to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the impact this condition produces on people is absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and are almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of dubious choices (as in typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like prey caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a welcome realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals express gratitude toward one another feel much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message about family or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're effective frights, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable
