Typically, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems mostly exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Character Development
One of this movie's greatest strengths is its superb rhythm. It begins with a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see the family before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has understandably led to a rift between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and who loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch is her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I almost forgot this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style that often introduces characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real shock when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to making a sudden turn into shocking territory. These early scenes aren't centered as much on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient time to immerse in its world before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
The film additionally presents a quite intriguing reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the movie had spent a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this affliction produces on humans proves utterly disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and they're almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of questionable choices (like any any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find rather than freezing like prey in headlights while danger approaches.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters express gratitude toward one another feel far more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're successful frights, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining
