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 proved enjoyable, the genre feels largely depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth
One of this movie's strongest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It begins using a memorable initial scene in which a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household before the disaster struck.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough opportunity to get to know its main characters prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but socially awkward, and he loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. The family patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the household's issues and their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film depicting viewers the identity of every relative is, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits allowed the audience to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style which frequently presents characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real shock when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy before taking a sudden turn toward shocking ground. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless 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. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided something regarding how it started, I wish the movie had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited context, the impact this condition has on people is utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and they're almost certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
Even better than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some instances of questionable decision-making (like any any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find instead of standing still like a deer in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic deviation 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 relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters express appreciation for each other feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight about family or community, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're effective scares, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining
