Typically, I'm over zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems largely depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
One of this movie's greatest strengths is its excellent pacing. It begins using a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is then followed by a look back, allowing us to observe the family prior to the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. The family head is Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed with this household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime depicting us who each relative represents, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on clashing personalities allowed the audience to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces characters just 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 real shock once events eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy before making a sudden shift into "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives enough opportunity to settle into its world before it gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Origin
The film also offers a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the movie devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly potion which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited context, the effect this condition produces on humans proves utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and they're practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of questionable choices (like any typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals express gratitude toward one another seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message about family or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are successful frights, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
