Typically, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels largely depleted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Character Growth
One of this movie's strongest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It begins with a memorable initial scene where a calm family party is violently disrupted by a van crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to see this household prior to the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough time to get to know its main characters prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. This household patriarch is her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked this was a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities allowed me to relate with the characters enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat for this style that often introduces individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, so it's a genuine shock when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to making a sudden shift toward shocking ground. These early scenes aren't centered as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives enough opportunity to settle into the setting before everything gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a quite interesting reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect this affliction has on humans is absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of dubious choices (like any any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find rather than freezing like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude for each other feel far more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. 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 outcome is a captivating and entertaining
