For the most part, I'm over zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems largely exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved quite entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth
One of this movie's greatest assets is its excellent pacing. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence where a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household prior to the tragedy occurred.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough opportunity to get to know the primary characters before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. The family patriarch is her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so invested with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film depicting us the identity of every family member is, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities enabled the audience to connect to the personalities enough to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often introduces individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real shock when things finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor before making a sudden turn into shocking territory. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to settle into its world before it gets upended.
Original Infection Source
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the film devoted additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this affliction produces on people proves utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and they're almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of dubious choices (as in any good undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity 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 doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters do show gratitude toward one another feel far more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message about family or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're effective scares, and since the film gives each character enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and entertaining
