Typically, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels largely depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Character Development
Among this movie's strongest strengths is its superb pacing. It begins with a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family party is violently disrupted by a vehicle crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges and begins attacking the attendees. This intense moment is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household before the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient time to become acquainted with its main personalities before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has predictably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. The family head is her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film depicting viewers who each family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities allowed me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a real shock once events finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and various family interactions actually evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy prior to making an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to immerse in the setting before it gets upended.
Original Zombification Origin
The film also offers a quite intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the movie devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the impact this condition produces on humans proves utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
Even better than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of questionable decision-making (as in typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than freezing like prey caught in lights while danger approaches.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, which was a welcome authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals express gratitude for each other feel much more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering frights. Yet these are effective scares, and because the film gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining
