For the most part, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems largely depleted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated turning out quite enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Development
One of this movie's greatest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene where a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense moment is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe this household prior to the disaster occurred.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient time to get to know its main characters prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has predictably caused a rift between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured but socially awkward, and he loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. The family head consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on only two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime depicting viewers who each family member represents, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled the audience to connect with the characters enough to care about their fate—a rare feat in a genre which frequently presents individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, so it's a real shock once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before making a sudden shift toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting prior to it gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the film devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this condition produces on humans is absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and are practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some instances of questionable choices (as in any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object is available instead of freezing like prey in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, which was a welcome authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are successful scares, and because the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining
