For the most part, I've grown tired of zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category feels mostly exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
One of the film's strongest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family party is violently interrupted by a van crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then followed by a look back, allowing us to see this household before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough time to get to know its main personalities prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. This has understandably led to a rift among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. This household head consists of Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely tense.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime depicting viewers who each family member represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled me to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a real surprise once events eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and various family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor before making a sudden shift into "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to settle into its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Source
The film also offers a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the film devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the impact this affliction has on humans is absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and are almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of dubious decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object is available instead of freezing like prey in headlights while danger approaches.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals express gratitude toward one another feel far more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message about family or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are effective frights, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining
