Generally speaking, 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, this category feels largely exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Rhythm and Character Growth
One of this movie's strongest strengths is its superb pacing. It kicks off using a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family party is violently interrupted by a vehicle plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense moment is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see the family prior to the disaster occurred.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient time to get to know the primary characters before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has predictably caused a falling out among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two things: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this household's issues and their personal conflicts that I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film to showing us who each relative represents, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing traits allowed me to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat for this style which frequently introduces individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to taking a sudden turn into "holy shit" territory. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
This movie also offers a quite intriguing reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion which seems to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the effect this affliction produces on humans proves utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of dubious choices (like any typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people begin transforming to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from that "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. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters do show appreciation for each other feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message about family or community, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are effective frights, and because the film gives each character enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
