Generally speaking, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems largely exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Development
One of this movie's strongest assets is its excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted by a van plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking individual emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family before the disaster occurred.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters prior to the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. This has predictably caused a rift among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. The family patriarch is her dad, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two aspects: his business and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so invested with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked this was a horror film—something that could sound like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film to showing viewers the identity of every relative represents, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing traits allowed me to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat for this style which frequently presents characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a real shock when things finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor before making an abrupt turn into "holy shit" ground. These early scenes don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives enough time to settle into the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Origin
The film also offers a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While some background is provided something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent additional time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly potion which seems to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the impact this affliction has on humans is utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite convincing, and are almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
Even better than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some instances of questionable choices (as in typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like prey caught in lights while danger approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a close location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters do show appreciation for each other feel far more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight about family or society, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're successful frights, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and entertaining
