Typically, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated turning out quite entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Development
Among the film's greatest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a van crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to see this household before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough opportunity to get to know its main personalities before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. The family patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two aspects: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so invested with this household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film depicting viewers who each family member is, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing traits allowed me to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style that often presents characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to devour, so it's a real shock when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama with slightly dark humor prior to making a sudden turn toward shocking territory. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough time to immerse in the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Origin
This movie additionally presents a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this condition produces on people proves absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and are almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of questionable choices (like any any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another seem much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or community, as well. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. Yet these are successful frights, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is an engaging and entertaining