Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems mostly depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Personal Growth
Among this movie's strongest assets lies in the superb pacing. It begins with a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted when a van crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family before the disaster occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary personalities before the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, the owner of a popular herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film to showing us the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat for this style which frequently presents individuals 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 devour, so it's a genuine shock when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to taking an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" territory. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to it gets upended.
Original Zombification Origin
This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a new batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly potion which seems to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this affliction has on humans proves utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some examples of dubious decision-making (as in any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find rather than standing still like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic subversion from that "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 cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another feel far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight about family or community, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. But they're successful frights, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
