Generally speaking, I've grown tired of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems mostly depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
One of the film's greatest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene where a calm family gathering is violently disrupted when a van crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to see this household prior to the disaster occurred.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient time to get to know its main personalities before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and who loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. The family head consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime to showing us the identity of every family member is, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently introduces characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a real surprise when things finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama with slightly dark humor prior to making a sudden turn into shocking territory. These early moments don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives enough opportunity to settle into its world prior to everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Origin
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly potion that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of background, the impact this condition produces on people is utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and are almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some instances of questionable choices (as in any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger approaches.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters do show appreciation for each other feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message regarding relatives or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. But they're successful frights, and because the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and enjoyable
