Typically, I've had my fill of undead films. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems mostly exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Development
One of this movie's greatest assets is its excellent rhythm. It begins with a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to see this household before the disaster struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. This household patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film depicting viewers who each relative is, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often presents individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, so it's a real surprise once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy prior to taking an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" ground. These early moments don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Origin
The film additionally presents a quite interesting explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the film had spent additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited background, the effect this condition has on people proves utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and are practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of questionable decision-making (like any any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals express appreciation for each other feel far more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message about family or society, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're effective scares, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining
