For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category seems largely depleted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Personal Growth
Among the film's strongest assets is its excellent pacing. It kicks off using a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. This household patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is extremely strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film to showing us who each relative represents, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing traits allowed me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat in a genre that often introduces characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine surprise once events eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to making an abrupt shift into "holy shit" ground. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough time to settle into its world before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
The film additionally presents a quite interesting reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a new batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the effect this affliction has on humans proves absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and they're almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some instances of questionable choices (like any typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find rather than standing still like a deer in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord 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 so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her spouse, 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 regroup at a close location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals express gratitude for each other feel far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight about family or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're effective frights, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable
