Typically, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Development
Among this movie's strongest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins using a memorable opening sequence in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger emerges and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe this household prior to the disaster struck.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary characters prior to the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might sound like a drawback, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime to showing us the identity of every relative is, and how they add to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing personalities allowed me to connect to the personalities enough to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often introduces characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama with slightly dark humor before making an abrupt turn into "holy shit" ground. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives enough opportunity to settle into the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Origin
The film also offers a quite intriguing reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this affliction has on humans is utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
Even better compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of questionable decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, this proved a welcome authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals express appreciation for each other seem much more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
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 society, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. Yet these are effective frights, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
