Typically, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category seems mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Character Growth
One of the film's strongest assets is its superb rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This intense moment is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient time to get to know its main personalities before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has predictably caused a rift between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. This household patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two things: his business and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot this was a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime to showing us the identity of every family member is, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat for this style that often introduces characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, so it's a genuine shock once events eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy prior to taking an abrupt shift into "holy shit" territory. These early scenes don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient time to settle into its world prior to it gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
The film additionally presents a fairly interesting reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the film devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir which seems to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this affliction has on humans proves utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
Even better than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some examples of questionable decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters express appreciation for each other seem much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are effective scares, and because the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable
