For the most part, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels mostly depleted 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 zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Development
One of the film's strongest assets lies in the superb pacing. It begins using a striking initial scene where a calm family gathering is violently interrupted by a vehicle plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see this household before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient time to get to know its main characters before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has predictably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and who loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. The family patriarch is her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two things: his business and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so invested in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film depicting us who each relative represents, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, so it's a genuine surprise when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy before taking an abrupt turn toward shocking ground. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world prior to everything gets upended.
Original Infection Origin
The film additionally presents a quite interesting reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the movie devoted additional time on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the effect this affliction has on humans is absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and they're practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of dubious decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find rather than freezing like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus 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 forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight about family or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're effective scares, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining
