For the most part, I'm over undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels mostly depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Character Development
Among this movie's greatest strengths is its excellent rhythm. It begins with a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family party is violently interrupted when a van crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household prior to the disaster struck.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough opportunity to get to know the primary personalities prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch is her dad, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film to showing us the identity of every relative is, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities allowed the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat in a genre that often introduces characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine shock once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to taking an abrupt turn into shocking territory. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient time to immerse in its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the effect this affliction has on people proves utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some instances of dubious decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from that "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 movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This makes those instances when these characters express appreciation toward one another feel much more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are effective scares, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining
