Generally speaking, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet 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 quite enjoyable.
Superb Rhythm and Personal Development
Among the film's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted when a vehicle plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to see this household prior to the tragedy struck.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient time to get to know the primary characters before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has understandably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and who loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might sound like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of the film depicting viewers the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed me to relate with the characters enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat in a genre that often presents individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, so it's a genuine shock once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before taking a sudden shift toward "holy shit" ground. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough time to immerse in the setting before it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a quite intriguing reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the movie had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of context, the effect this condition produces on humans is absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and they're practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
Even better than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of dubious decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find rather than freezing like prey caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, which was a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters express appreciation toward one another feel far more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are effective scares, and since the film gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves a captivating and enjoyable
