Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems largely exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated turning out quite enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth
Among this movie's strongest assets is its excellent pacing. It kicks off with a striking initial scene in which a calm family gathering is violently disrupted by a van plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the tragedy struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough opportunity to get to know the primary characters before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. This has understandably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family head is her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I almost forgot this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime to showing us the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed me to connect with the characters enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine surprise when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before making a sudden shift toward "holy shit" ground. These early moments don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient time to settle into the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited background, 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, always smiling. This is a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and are practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
More impressive than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are a few instances of dubious choices (as in any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object is available rather than standing still like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, which was a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters express gratitude toward one another feel much more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are successful frights, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and entertaining
