Typically, I'm over zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Superb Rhythm and Character Growth
One of this movie's greatest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It kicks off with a striking initial scene where a peaceful family party is violently disrupted when a van plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe this household prior to the tragedy struck.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough opportunity to get to know the primary characters prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift between the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on just two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot this was a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film to showing viewers the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine shock when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama with slightly dark humor prior to taking an abrupt shift into "holy shit" territory. These early scenes don't focus as much on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
The film also offers a quite interesting explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the movie had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the impact this affliction produces on people proves utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and they're practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are a few examples of questionable decision-making (like any typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, which was a pleasantly authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters express appreciation for each other seem far more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful scares, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is an engaging and entertaining
