Typically, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels largely exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Personal Development
Among this movie's greatest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It begins using a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family party is violently disrupted when a van plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family before the tragedy struck.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably led to a rift between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and he loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household head consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film depicting us the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits enabled me to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style that often presents individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy before making an abrupt turn toward shocking ground. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world prior to everything gets upended.
Original Infection Origin
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this condition has on people proves absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
Even better than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of questionable decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find rather than standing still like prey caught in lights while danger approaches.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes those instances where these individuals express gratitude for each other seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight about family or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are successful frights, and because the movie allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable
