For the most part, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category seems mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved quite entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Development
Among the film's greatest assets is its superb pacing. It begins with a memorable initial scene in which a calm family party is violently disrupted when a vehicle plows into the seating section. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to see this household before the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough time to get to know its main personalities before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has predictably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch is her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two things: his business and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime depicting viewers who each relative is, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled me to connect with the characters enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat in a genre which frequently presents individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine shock when things eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and various family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor before taking an abrupt turn toward shocking ground. These early scenes don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to immerse in its world prior to it gets upended.
Unique Infection Origin
The film also offers a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While some background is provided something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of background, the impact this condition produces on people is utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of questionable choices (as in typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters do show appreciation for each other feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight about family or community, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are effective frights, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and enjoyable
