For the most part, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems mostly depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Development
One of the film's greatest strengths is its superb rhythm. It begins using a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges and begins attacking the attendees. This intense moment is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to see this household prior to the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. This has understandably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. This household head is Nes' father, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so invested with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently introduces characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor before making a sudden shift toward "holy shit" territory. These early scenes don't focus as much on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to settle into its world prior to everything gets upended.
Unique Infection Origin
The film additionally presents a quite intriguing reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of background, the impact this affliction has on humans is utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of questionable decision-making (as in any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find instead of freezing like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation for each other seem much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's primarily serving up frights. But they're effective scares, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and entertaining
