Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels mostly depleted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. However, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Development
Among the film's strongest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It begins with a striking opening sequence where a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household before the tragedy struck.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough time to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and he loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's 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 interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked this was a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film depicting us who each relative represents, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities allowed the audience to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often presents characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a real shock when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to making an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient time to settle into its world before everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Origin
This movie also offers a fairly interesting reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the effect this condition produces on people proves utterly disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and are almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
Even better than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of dubious decision-making (like any any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger approaches.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals express appreciation for each other feel far more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message about family or community, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're successful scares, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and entertaining
