Generally speaking, I've had my fill of undead films. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category feels mostly depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.
Superb Rhythm and Personal Development
One of this movie's greatest assets is its superb pacing. It begins with a striking initial scene where a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted when a vehicle plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe this household prior to the disaster struck.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough time to become acquainted with its main personalities before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household head is her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of the film to showing us the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a real surprise once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to taking a sudden turn toward shocking ground. These introductory moments aren't centered as much on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
This movie also offers a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this condition produces on humans proves utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and are almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some examples of dubious choices (like any typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes those instances where these individuals express gratitude 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 a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message about family or community, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are successful scares, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and entertaining
