For the most part, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels mostly depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. However, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
Among this movie's strongest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It begins using a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family party is violently interrupted by a van crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family before the disaster struck.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary characters prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably caused a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household head is Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two aspects: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of the film depicting viewers who each family member represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits allowed me to relate with the characters enough to care about their fate—an uncommon feat for this style which frequently introduces individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine shock when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to making an abrupt shift into "holy shit" territory. These early moments don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives enough opportunity to immerse in its world prior to everything gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
The film additionally presents a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this condition produces on humans is absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite convincing, and are almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of dubious choices (as in any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger approaches.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters do show gratitude for each other feel far more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. Yet these are successful scares, and because the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and enjoyable
