Generally speaking, I've had my fill of undead films. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems largely exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Character Growth
Among the film's strongest assets is its superb pacing. It kicks off with a striking initial scene where a calm family gathering is violently disrupted by a vehicle plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual emerges and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household prior to the tragedy struck.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has understandably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. This household head consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot this was a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every family member is, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style that often presents individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, so it's a real surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy prior to taking a sudden turn into "holy shit" ground. These early scenes don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough time to immerse in its world prior to it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
The film also offers a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted additional time on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir which seems to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this condition produces on people proves absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring choice, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and are almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
Even better compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of dubious decision-making (like any any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like a deer in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, which was a welcome realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude for each other feel far more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight about family or society, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are successful scares, and because the movie gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
