Typically, I'm over undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category seems largely depleted 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 zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Character Development
One of the film's greatest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted when a vehicle crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see this household before the tragedy struck.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary personalities prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. This has understandably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. This household head is her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two aspects: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film to showing us the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed me to connect with the characters enough to care about their outcome—a rare feat for this style which frequently presents characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a real shock when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy before making a sudden turn into shocking ground. These early scenes don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting before everything gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
This movie also offers a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the film devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited background, the impact this affliction has on humans is utterly disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and are practically guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
Even better compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, there are a few examples of questionable decision-making (as in any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation for each other seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're effective frights, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
