Generally speaking, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems largely exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Character Growth
One of this movie's strongest strengths is its excellent pacing. It begins using a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family party is violently disrupted when a van crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see this household prior to the tragedy occurred.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough time to get to know the primary personalities before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has understandably caused a falling out between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime depicting viewers who each relative is, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits enabled me to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often introduces characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, so it's a real shock when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy before making an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to settle into its world before it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
This movie also offers a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the movie devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a lethal potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the impact this affliction has on people proves utterly disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and are almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of questionable choices (like any any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object is available rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming into zombies, this proved a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters express appreciation for each other feel far more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're effective frights, and because the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable
