Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category feels largely exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Growth
One of the film's greatest assets is its excellent rhythm. It begins with a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted when a vehicle crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see this household prior to the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives viewers sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. This has predictably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch is her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every family member is, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to relate with the characters enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often introduces individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a real shock when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various family interactions actually evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before making an abrupt shift into shocking ground. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to immerse in the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Source
This movie additionally presents a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the movie devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the impact this condition produces on people proves utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and are almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some instances of dubious decision-making (as in any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters do show gratitude toward one another feel far more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight about family or community, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are effective scares, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining
