Typically, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems mostly exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Development
Among this movie's strongest strengths is its excellent rhythm. It begins with a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family party is violently interrupted when a van crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household before the disaster occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough opportunity to get to know its main personalities before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on just two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is extremely strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so invested with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film to showing viewers the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon feat for this style which frequently introduces individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a genuine surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to making a sudden shift toward shocking territory. These early moments don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to immerse in its world before everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
This movie also offers a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of background, the impact this condition produces on humans proves utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and are practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are a few instances of questionable choices (as in any good undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message about family or society, as well. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're effective scares, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
