Typically, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems largely exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Growth
Among the film's strongest strengths is its excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence where a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see this household prior to the disaster struck.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough time to become acquainted with the primary characters before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably caused a falling out among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household patriarch is her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film to showing viewers the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat in a genre which frequently presents characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real shock once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before taking a sudden shift into shocking ground. These early moments don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Origin
This movie also offers a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the film devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the effect this condition has on people is utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and they're almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
Even better compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some instances of dubious decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like prey in headlights as death nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes those instances when these characters express gratitude for each other seem much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're effective scares, and because the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
