For the most part, I'm over undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category feels mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Development
Among the film's greatest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a striking initial scene in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a van plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see the family prior to the disaster struck.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities 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 led to a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household head consists of her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on only two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked this was a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime to showing us who each family member represents, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled the audience to connect to the personalities enough to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently presents characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real shock once events eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor before making a sudden shift into "holy shit" ground. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Origin
The film also offers a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the movie had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the impact this condition has on people proves absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and are practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some examples of questionable choices (like any any good undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available rather than freezing like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, this proved a welcome authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation for each other seem far more sincere.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are effective frights, and since the movie gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable
