Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems largely depleted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. However, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out quite enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth
One of this movie's strongest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It begins with a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a van crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household prior to the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough time to become acquainted with its main personalities before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has predictably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and who loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. The family head consists of her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two aspects: his business and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot this was a horror film—which might sound like a negative, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film depicting viewers who each family member represents, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits enabled the audience to connect with the characters enough to care about their fate—a rare feat in a genre which frequently presents individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a real shock once events eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor before taking a sudden shift into shocking territory. These introductory moments don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to settle into its world before it gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Origin
The film additionally presents a quite intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited context, the impact this condition produces on humans is absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and are practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
Even better than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of questionable choices (as in typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available rather than freezing like prey in headlights while danger nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters express gratitude toward one another feel far more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message about family or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're effective frights, and because the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is an engaging and enjoyable
