Generally speaking, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels mostly depleted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth
One of the film's greatest assets is its excellent pacing. It begins using a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a van crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient time to become acquainted with its main characters before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has predictably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household head is her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime depicting us the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to relate with the characters enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often presents individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, so it's a real shock once events eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before taking an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to settle into its world before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
The film additionally presents a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect this affliction has on humans is absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and are practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
Even better compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, there are a few instances of dubious decision-making (like any any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object is available instead of freezing like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters express gratitude toward one another feel much more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're successful scares, and since the movie gives each character enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining
