Generally speaking, I've grown tired of zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Character Development
One of this movie's greatest assets is its superb rhythm. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household before the disaster occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough time to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family head is Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime depicting viewers who each family member is, and how they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing traits enabled the audience to connect with the characters enough to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a real shock once events eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and various family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy before taking an abrupt turn into shocking ground. These early moments don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal potion which seems to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of background, the effect this condition has on people is absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and are almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of questionable choices (like any any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict when people begin transforming 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 pardon you for everything! trope often seen 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 holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals express gratitude for each other feel much more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight about family or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering frights. But they're effective frights, and because the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and entertaining
