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 gripping, this category seems largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Development
Among this movie's strongest strengths is its superb pacing. It begins with a striking opening sequence where a calm family party is violently disrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then followed by a look back, allowing us to observe this household prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film to showing us the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing traits enabled the audience to relate with the characters enough to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently presents characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a real shock when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy prior to making a sudden turn toward shocking ground. These introductory moments aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to settle into its world prior to everything gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
The film additionally presents a fairly interesting explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the impact this condition has on humans is absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and they're almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of dubious choices (as in any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument is available instead of freezing like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes those instances when these characters do show appreciation toward one another feel far more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message about family or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are effective scares, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable
