For the most part, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels mostly depleted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Character Development
One of the film's greatest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins using a striking opening sequence where a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the disaster struck.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough opportunity to get to know its main personalities prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has predictably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but socially awkward, and he enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family head consists of her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he seems focused on only two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I almost forgot this was a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film to showing us the identity of every relative is, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing traits enabled the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat for this style which frequently presents individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a real surprise when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy prior to taking a sudden shift toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting before it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie also offers a quite interesting reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the film devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly potion that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the effect this affliction has on people is absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and are practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
More impressive than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of dubious decision-making (as in any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly authentic 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 end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals express appreciation for each other feel far more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message regarding relatives or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're effective frights, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
