For the most part, I'm over zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels largely depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Character Development
One of this movie's greatest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It kicks off with a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see this household prior to the disaster struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough time to get to know the primary personalities prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. This has understandably led to a rift among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and who loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this household's issues and their personal conflicts that I almost forgot this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every relative represents, and how they add to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities allowed the audience to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often introduces individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a real shock when things eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to taking an abrupt shift into shocking territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to settle into the setting before everything gets upended.
Original Infection Source
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the film had spent a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the impact this affliction produces on people proves absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and are almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
Even better than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are a few examples of questionable decision-making (as in any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available instead of freezing like prey in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide 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 toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals express appreciation for each other feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're successful frights, and because the film gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
