Typically, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category feels largely depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
Among this movie's strongest assets is its excellent rhythm. It begins with a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering is violently interrupted when a vehicle plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. This has predictably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured but socially awkward, and who loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch is her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime to showing us the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to devour, so it's a genuine shock once events finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and various family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-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, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to settle into its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
The film also offers a quite intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this condition produces on humans is utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and are almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of dubious decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like prey caught in lights while danger approaches.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, which was a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation for each other seem much more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight about family or society, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're successful scares, and since the film allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining
