For the most part, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems mostly depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth
Among this movie's strongest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off using a striking initial scene in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household before the disaster struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably led to a falling out between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. This household patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is extremely strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so invested with this household's issues and their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every family member is, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities enabled the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare feat for this style that often introduces individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a real shock when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor before taking a sudden shift toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to settle into the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
The film also offers a quite intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir which seems to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this condition produces on people proves utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, but it works. 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 compared to the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of dubious choices (as in any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like prey caught in lights while danger approaches.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters do show gratitude toward one another feel far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're successful scares, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves a captivating and enjoyable
