For the most part, I'm over zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Superb Rhythm and Character Development
Among this movie's strongest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted by a van crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household before the disaster struck.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives viewers sufficient time to get to know its main personalities prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family head is Nes' father, the owner of a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked this was a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime depicting us the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often introduces characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine shock once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy before making a sudden turn into "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough time to settle into the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
The film also offers a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than a unintended lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the film devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this affliction has on people proves absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and they're almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
More impressive compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some examples of dubious decision-making (like any typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters express gratitude toward one another seem much more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are effective frights, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining
