For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category feels largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Growth
One of the film's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It begins using a striking opening sequence in which a calm family party is violently disrupted when a van plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough time to get to know its main characters before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has predictably led to a falling out among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. The family head is her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on just two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime depicting viewers who each family member is, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare feat in a genre which frequently presents individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, so it's a real surprise once events eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before making an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" territory. These early scenes aren't centered as much on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting before it gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Origin
This movie also offers a fairly interesting reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the movie had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of background, the impact this condition has on people proves utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
Even better than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of dubious choices (as in any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope often seen in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals express gratitude toward one another feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're effective scares, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining
