Generally speaking, I'm over zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category seems mostly depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Character Growth
Among this movie's strongest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering is violently interrupted when a van crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household before the disaster struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough opportunity to get to know the primary characters prior to the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. This has predictably led to a falling out between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. This household patriarch is her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, but in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of the film to showing viewers the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities allowed the audience to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often presents characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine shock once events eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and various family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before making an abrupt shift into "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to settle into its world before everything gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this condition has on people proves utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring decision, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and are practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of questionable choices (as in any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger approaches.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, this proved a welcome authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters do show gratitude for each other feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are effective scares, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable
