For the most part, I'm over undead films. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category seems mostly exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Growth
One of this movie's strongest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It begins with a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family party is violently disrupted when a vehicle plows into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense moment is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters prior to the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and he loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. This household patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known 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 family reunion is extremely strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so invested with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked this was a horror film—which might sound like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film depicting us who each relative is, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed me to connect with the characters enough to care about their fate—a rare feat for this style that often introduces individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to making an abrupt shift toward shocking ground. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough time to immerse in the setting prior to it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
The film additionally presents a quite interesting reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly potion that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the effect this affliction has on people proves absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and they're practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of questionable choices (as in typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters express appreciation for each other feel far more genuine.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're effective frights, and because the film gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable
