For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels mostly depleted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
One of the film's greatest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence where a calm family gathering is violently disrupted by a vehicle crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household before the disaster struck.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough time to get to know its main personalities prior to the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably caused a rift among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film depicting us who each relative represents, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits enabled me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a real surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with slightly dark humor before taking an abrupt shift into shocking territory. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient time to settle into the setting before it gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Source
The film additionally presents a quite intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental 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. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted additional time on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the impact this affliction has on humans is absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and are practically guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
Even better than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of dubious choices (like any typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters do show appreciation for each other feel far more sincere.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight about family or community, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. Yet these are successful scares, and because the film gives each character enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
