For the most part, I've grown tired of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved quite entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Character Growth
One of the film's greatest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence where a calm family gathering is violently disrupted when a vehicle plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense scene is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to see this household prior to the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough opportunity to get to know the primary characters before the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably caused a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household head consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on just two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I almost forgot this was a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime to showing us who each family member is, and how they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often presents characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real shock when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to taking an abrupt shift into shocking territory. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient time to settle into the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Origin
The film additionally presents a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a new batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While some background is provided something regarding how it started, I wish the movie had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this condition produces on people is absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and they're almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
Even better than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of questionable choices (as in any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument is available rather than freezing like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes those instances where these individuals express gratitude toward one another seem far more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're effective frights, and since the film gives each character enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
