Typically, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems largely exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out quite entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
Among the film's greatest assets is its excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a striking initial scene in which a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted when a van plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense moment is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household prior to the disaster struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives viewers sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. The family head consists of her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on only two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the household's issues and their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime depicting viewers who each family member represents, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities allowed me to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style that often presents characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a real surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy before taking an abrupt turn toward shocking ground. These early moments don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives enough time to immerse in its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
The film also offers a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the movie devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of background, the effect this condition has on people proves absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and are almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
Even better compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of dubious choices (as in any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object is available rather than freezing like prey caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome 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 end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters express gratitude toward one another feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful scares, and because the movie gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable
