Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category feels largely exhausted nowadays. Yet 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 enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
One of the film's strongest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family party is violently disrupted by a van plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see the family before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough opportunity to get to know the primary characters prior to the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has understandably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the household's issues and their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film depicting viewers the identity of every relative is, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to connect with the characters enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat for this style which frequently introduces individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine surprise once events eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama with slightly dark humor prior to taking an abrupt shift into "holy shit" territory. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to settle into its world prior to it gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
The film also offers a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the film devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal potion that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the effect this condition has on humans proves utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and are practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
More impressive than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of dubious choices (as in typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals express gratitude for each other feel much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight about family or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're effective scares, and since the film allows every personality enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
