For the most part, I've had my fill of undead films. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Character Development
Among this movie's strongest assets lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted when a van plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to see this household before the disaster occurred.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient time to get to know its main characters prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted but socially awkward, and who loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. The family patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime depicting viewers who each family member represents, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities allowed me to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a real shock when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to taking a sudden shift toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to settle into the setting before it gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the movie devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the effect this affliction produces on people is absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and they're almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some examples of dubious choices (as in typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like prey in headlights while danger approaches.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters do show gratitude toward one another seem much more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are effective scares, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and enjoyable
