Generally speaking, I've had my fill of undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels mostly exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Personal Development
One of the film's strongest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins using a memorable opening sequence where a calm family party is violently disrupted by a van crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is then followed by a look back, allowing us to see the family before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with its main characters before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so invested in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of the film depicting us the identity of every relative is, and how they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled the audience to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently presents characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine shock once events eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various household exchanges actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy before taking an abrupt shift toward shocking territory. These early moments don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to settle into the setting prior to it gets upended.
Original Infection Source
The film also offers a quite interesting explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the movie devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of context, the effect this affliction produces on people is absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and they're practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of questionable choices (as in typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object is available instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another seem much more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight about family or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're effective scares, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and entertaining
