Typically, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out quite entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Character Growth
One of this movie's greatest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a striking opening sequence in which a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe this household prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough time to get to know its main characters prior to the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably caused a falling out among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. The family patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so engrossed in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a drawback, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of the film to showing us who each relative is, and how they add to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities enabled the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat in a genre that often presents individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a genuine surprise once events eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and various household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy prior to making an abrupt turn into "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to settle into its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Source
The film also offers a quite intriguing reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this condition has on humans is absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and are practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of questionable choices (as in typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation 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 films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her family—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 family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters do show appreciation toward one another feel much more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're successful frights, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and entertaining
