For the most part, I'm over zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for months. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Development
One of the film's strongest assets lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off with a striking initial scene where a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe this household before the tragedy struck.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough opportunity to get to know the primary personalities prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has predictably led to a falling out among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. The family head is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot I was watching a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime to showing us who each family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often presents characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. 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 finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to making a sudden shift toward shocking ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives enough time to immerse in its world before it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
This movie additionally presents a quite interesting explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the impact this affliction produces on people proves utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and are almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of dubious decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits 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 relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals express appreciation for each other seem far more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message regarding relatives or community, as well. Rather, it's primarily delivering frights. But they're effective scares, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining
