For the most part, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved quite entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Development
Among the film's strongest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see the family prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient time to get to know the primary characters before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and who loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. This household head is her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing traits enabled me to connect with the characters enough to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine shock once events eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor before making an abrupt turn toward shocking ground. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to settle into the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Origin
This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the film devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to producing a deadly potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the effect this affliction produces on humans is absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and are almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of questionable decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they decide over the phone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang admits 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 is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters do show appreciation for each other seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message about family or society, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are successful scares, and since the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable
