For the most part, I've grown tired of undead films. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems mostly depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. However, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
One of the film's strongest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering is violently interrupted by a van plows into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see this household prior to the disaster struck.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough opportunity to get to know the primary characters before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has understandably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. The family patriarch is her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked this was a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film to showing us who each family member represents, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled me to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style that often presents individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to making a sudden turn toward "holy shit" territory. These early moments don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to settle into its world before it gets upended.
Original Infection Origin
This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this affliction produces on people proves utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and are almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some instances of dubious choices (as in any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find instead of freezing like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, which was a welcome authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals express appreciation toward one another feel far more genuine.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are effective scares, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining
