Generally speaking, I've grown tired of undead films. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels mostly depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Character Development
One of this movie's greatest assets is its excellent rhythm. It begins using a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see this household before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know its main characters before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and he loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch is her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film to showing us who each family member represents, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently introduces characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a genuine surprise when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before making a sudden turn into "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to settle into its world prior to it gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
This movie also offers a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the impact this condition has on people is absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and are almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of dubious decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like a deer in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, which was a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters express gratitude toward one another feel far more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight about family or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. But they're successful frights, and since the film allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
