Typically, I'm over zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems largely exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved quite entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth
Among this movie's strongest assets is its superb pacing. It begins with a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then followed by a look back, allowing us to observe the family before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient time to become acquainted with its main personalities before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to her. This household patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he appears focused on only two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so invested in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of the film depicting us who each family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities allowed me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat in a genre which frequently presents individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a real shock once events eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story that masquerades like a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy before taking a sudden shift into "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives enough time to immerse in the setting prior to it gets upended.
Original Infection Origin
The film additionally presents a quite interesting explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this affliction has on humans proves utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and are practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
Even better than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of dubious choices (like any typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like prey caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight about family or society, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are effective scares, and because the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining
