Typically, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Rhythm and Character Growth
One of the film's greatest strengths is its excellent rhythm. It begins with a striking opening sequence where a calm family party is violently disrupted by a van plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household before the tragedy struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough opportunity to get to know its main characters before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has predictably caused a falling out between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family head is her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film to showing us who each family member is, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits enabled me to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare feat for this style that often introduces individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, so it's a genuine surprise once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to making an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to immerse in the setting before everything gets upended.
Unique Infection Origin
The film also offers a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the film devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited background, the impact this condition has on humans proves utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and they're almost certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some examples of questionable decision-making (as in typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object they find instead of standing still like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters do show appreciation for each other feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're effective scares, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining
