Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Growth
Among the film's strongest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a striking initial scene where a peaceful family party is violently interrupted when a van crashes into the guest area. 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 the family prior to the tragedy struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary characters before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. This has understandably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two things: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this household's issues and their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime depicting us who each relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed me to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style that often introduces characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a genuine surprise once events finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to making an abrupt turn into "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Source
The film also offers a fairly interesting explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this affliction produces on people is utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and are practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of questionable decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find rather than standing still like prey in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, which was a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters do show gratitude for each other seem much more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're effective scares, and because the movie allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining
