Generally speaking, I'm over undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels largely exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Character Development
One of the film's greatest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a striking initial scene in which a calm family gathering is violently disrupted by a van crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household prior to the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know its main personalities prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and who loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. This household head is her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film depicting us who each relative represents, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities allowed me to relate with the characters enough to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment for this style which frequently presents characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine shock once events eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to taking a sudden turn toward shocking ground. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to settle into its world before everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Source
This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more time on 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 limited context, the impact this condition has on humans is utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, 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 realistic, and they're practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
More impressive compared to the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of dubious choices (like any typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object is available instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger approaches.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, which was a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters express appreciation for each other feel far more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message about family or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are effective frights, and since the film gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining
