For the most part, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems mostly exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Character Growth
One of this movie's strongest assets is its superb pacing. It begins using a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family party is violently interrupted when a van crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough 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, has become wed to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. This has predictably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and who loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot I was watching a horror film—which might sound like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime to showing viewers who each relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare feat for this style that often introduces characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, so it's a real shock when things eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy before making an abrupt turn into shocking territory. These early scenes aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
The film additionally presents a fairly interesting reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the impact this condition has on people proves absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and are practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
Even better than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some instances of questionable choices (as in typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like prey in headlights while danger nears.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters express gratitude for each other feel far more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message about family or community, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are effective frights, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and entertaining