Generally speaking, I've had my fill of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category feels largely exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Character Development
Among the film's strongest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins using a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering is violently interrupted by a vehicle plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough time to become acquainted with the primary characters prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has understandably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. The family head consists of Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of the film to showing us the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities allowed me to connect with the characters enough to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often introduces characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine surprise when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before taking a sudden turn into "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient time to settle into the setting before it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the movie devoted additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir which seems to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this condition produces on people is utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and are almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of questionable choices (like any typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, which was a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude for each other feel far more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight about family or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are effective scares, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and enjoyable
