Typically, I'm over undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels mostly depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 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 subvert what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Character Growth
One of this movie's strongest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins with a striking opening sequence in which a calm family gathering is violently disrupted when a van plows into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to observe this household before the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary personalities prior to the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and he loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two aspects: his business and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime to showing us the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities enabled me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat in a genre which frequently presents individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor before taking an abrupt shift into shocking ground. These introductory moments don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to settle into its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to producing a lethal potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the effect this affliction has on humans proves utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and are almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of questionable choices (as in any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like prey in headlights while danger approaches.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances where these individuals express gratitude for each other seem much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're effective frights, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable
