For the most part, I'm over undead films. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems mostly exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Growth
Among this movie's strongest strengths is its superb rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable opening sequence in which a peaceful family party is violently disrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see this household prior to the disaster struck.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient time to get to know the primary personalities prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film to showing us the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to connect with the characters enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat in a genre which frequently introduces characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a real surprise once events finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor before taking an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" territory. These early scenes aren't centered as much on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to settle into the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
The film also offers a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided something regarding how it started, I wish the movie devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the effect this condition produces on people proves absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and are almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of dubious decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like prey in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals express appreciation for each other seem much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're successful scares, and since the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
