Generally speaking, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. However, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Growth
One of the film's strongest strengths is its excellent pacing. It begins using a striking initial scene in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a van crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to see this household before the disaster struck.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary characters before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. This household patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of the film depicting viewers the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to connect with the characters enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a real shock once events eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and various household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to making a sudden turn toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to immerse in its world before it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
The film also offers a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, I wish the movie had spent additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this condition has on people proves absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and are practically guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of questionable choices (as in any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object they find instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger approaches.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation for each other seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight about family or community, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're successful frights, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and enjoyable
