For the most part, I'm over undead films. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems largely exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth
One of this movie's greatest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It begins using a striking opening sequence where a calm family party is violently disrupted when a van crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense moment is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to see the family before the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers sufficient time to become acquainted with its main personalities before the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. This has predictably caused a rift between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted but 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 her. The family head consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so invested with this household's issues along with 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 its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often presents individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a real shock when things finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy before making an abrupt shift into shocking ground. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world before everything gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
The film additionally presents a quite intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although some background is provided something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the effect this condition has on humans proves utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and are almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of questionable choices (like any typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find instead of standing still like prey in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation for each other seem much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight about family or community, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're effective scares, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and enjoyable
