Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category feels largely exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth
Among the film's strongest assets is its excellent pacing. It begins using a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted when a vehicle plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to see the family before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough time to get to know the primary characters before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has predictably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. The family head consists of Nes' father, the owner of a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he seems focused on just two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues and their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime depicting us who each relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real surprise once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama with slightly dark humor prior to taking an abrupt shift into shocking territory. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough time to immerse in its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Source
The film also offers a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal potion that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this condition produces on people is absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of questionable choices (like any typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters express appreciation toward one another seem far more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message about family or society, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're effective scares, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
