Generally speaking, I've grown tired of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category seems mostly depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out quite enjoyable.
Superb Rhythm and Personal Development
One of the film's strongest strengths is its superb rhythm. It kicks off with a striking initial scene in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a van plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see this household before the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough opportunity to get to know the primary personalities before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has understandably led to a falling out between the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and he enjoys gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on only two things: his business and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime depicting us who each relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed the audience to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat in a genre that often presents characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine surprise when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to taking a sudden shift into shocking territory. These early scenes aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting before everything gets upended.
Unique Infection Origin
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a new batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding how it started, I wish the film devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this affliction produces on humans is utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and are practically guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
Even better than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of questionable decision-making (as in typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like prey in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide over the phone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another feel far more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful scares, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
