Generally speaking, I've had my fill of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category feels mostly depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Growth
One of the film's strongest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges and begins attacking the attendees. This intense moment is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household before the disaster struck.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough time to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. The family patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on just two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot I was watching a horror film—which might sound like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime to showing us who each relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled me to connect to the personalities enough to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently presents individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, so it's a genuine shock when things eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor before making a sudden shift into shocking territory. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world before everything gets upended.
Original Infection Origin
The film additionally presents a quite interesting explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this affliction has on people proves utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and are almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of dubious choices (as in any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find instead of freezing like prey caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, which was a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters do show gratitude for each other feel far more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message about family or community, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're successful scares, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining
