Generally speaking, I'm over undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. However, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated turning out quite entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Character Development
One of the film's greatest assets is its excellent pacing. It kicks off with a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted by a van crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to see this household before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary characters before the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably caused a falling out between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. This household head is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on only two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every family member represents, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities allowed the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often introduces characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a genuine shock when things finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy before taking a sudden shift toward shocking ground. These introductory moments don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to immerse in its world before it gets upended.
Original Zombification Origin
The film also offers a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this affliction produces on humans proves absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and are practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of dubious decision-making (like any typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like a deer in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals express gratitude for each other seem far more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message regarding relatives or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful scares, and because the movie gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining
