Typically, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels largely depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Personal Growth
Among the film's greatest assets lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off using a striking initial scene in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a van plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to see the family before the disaster occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know its main characters prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and he loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. The family head consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on only two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so invested with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every relative represents, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a real surprise when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama with slightly dark humor prior to taking a sudden turn into "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient time to immerse in the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
The film additionally presents a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided something regarding how it started, I wish the movie had spent a little more time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this condition produces on people proves absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and are practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of dubious choices (like any typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters express gratitude for each other feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message about family or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're successful frights, and because the movie allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
