For the most part, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category seems mostly depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Superb Rhythm and Personal Growth
One of this movie's greatest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It kicks off using a striking initial scene in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family before the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough time to become acquainted with the primary characters before the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably caused a rift among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but socially awkward, and he loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. This household patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film to showing us who each family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits allowed me to relate with the characters enough to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often presents characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a real surprise once events eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy before making a sudden shift toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough time to settle into the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
The film also offers a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited context, the effect this condition produces on humans is absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and they're almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of questionable decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of freezing like prey in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope often seen in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters express appreciation for each other seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight about family or society, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're successful scares, and because the movie gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable
