Generally speaking, I've had my fill of undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems largely depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Development
Among this movie's strongest assets lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted when a van crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough time to become acquainted with the primary characters before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. The family head consists of her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he seems focused on only two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime to showing us the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled me to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare feat for this style which frequently introduces characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine shock once events eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy before making a sudden turn toward shocking ground. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the film had spent a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the effect this condition produces on humans proves absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and are almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
Even better than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of questionable decision-making (as in any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find rather than standing still like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family 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 an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals express gratitude toward one another seem far more genuine.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight about family or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're effective scares, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
