For the most part, I'm over zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems largely depleted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Character Growth
One of this movie's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It begins using a memorable opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough time to become acquainted with the primary characters before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out between the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family head consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on just two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so invested with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly forgot this was a horror film—which might sound like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film depicting us who each relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently presents individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine shock once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and various family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to making a sudden shift toward shocking ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to immerse in the setting before everything gets upended.
Unique Infection Origin
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited background, the impact this condition produces on people is utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
More impressive than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of questionable decision-making (like any any good undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available instead of freezing like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, this proved a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters express appreciation toward one another feel far more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are effective scares, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining
