Typically, I'm over zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category seems mostly depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out quite enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Character Development
One of this movie's greatest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It begins with a striking opening sequence in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household prior to the disaster occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably led to a falling out between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured but socially awkward, and he loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. This household head is her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film to showing us who each relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat for this style that often presents characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a real shock when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before taking a sudden turn into "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to immerse in the setting before it gets upended.
Original Infection Source
The film additionally presents a quite intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the movie devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the effect this condition has on humans proves absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some examples of dubious choices (as in typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object is available rather than standing still like a deer in headlights as death approaches.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, which was a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters do show appreciation for each other feel much more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message regarding relatives or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. But they're successful scares, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and entertaining
