Typically, I've had my fill of undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Superb Rhythm and Character Development
Among the film's strongest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It begins using a striking initial scene where a calm family gathering is violently disrupted when a van crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe this household before the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough opportunity to get to know the primary characters prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has understandably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household head consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two aspects: his business and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so invested with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of the film to showing viewers who each family member is, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits enabled the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine shock when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to taking a sudden shift toward shocking territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Unique Infection Origin
This movie also offers a quite intriguing reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, I wish the movie had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the effect this condition produces on humans proves utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and are practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
More impressive than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of questionable choices (like any typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available rather than freezing like prey in headlights as death nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people 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 pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters do show gratitude toward one another seem far more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message about family or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are successful scares, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
