For the most part, I've had my fill of undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Character Growth
Among this movie's greatest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins using a striking opening sequence where a calm family party is violently interrupted when a van crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers sufficient time to get to know its main characters before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch is her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime to showing us who each family member represents, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, so it's a genuine shock when things finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and various family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to taking an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" territory. These early scenes aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient time to settle into its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Origin
The film additionally presents a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this affliction produces on humans proves utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and are practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of questionable decision-making (as in any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger approaches.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord 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 so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation for each other feel far more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're effective scares, and since the movie gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and enjoyable
