Typically, I'm over zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category seems mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated turning out quite enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Development
One of the film's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a van crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to see this household before the disaster occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient time to get to know the primary personalities before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has predictably caused a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and who loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot this was a horror film—which might seem like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime depicting us the identity of every family member is, and how they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed me to connect with the characters enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces characters 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, thus it's a genuine surprise once events eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to making an abrupt shift into "holy shit" territory. These early scenes don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Original Infection Source
This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the effect this condition has on people proves absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and are almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of dubious choices (as in typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters express appreciation toward one another seem much more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight about family or society, as well. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. Yet these are effective scares, and because the movie gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and enjoyable
