Generally speaking, I've had my fill of undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth
Among this movie's strongest strengths is its excellent rhythm. It begins with a striking initial scene where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a van plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough time to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. This has predictably caused a rift among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so invested in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime depicting viewers who each relative represents, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities allowed me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a real shock once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie 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 moments aren't centered as much on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to immerse in the setting before everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
This movie also offers a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this condition produces on people is utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and are almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
Even better compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some examples of dubious decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than freezing like prey in headlights while danger nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes those instances where these individuals express appreciation for each other feel far more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're effective frights, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining
