Typically, I'm over undead films. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. However, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Character Growth
One of this movie's greatest strengths is its superb rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family party is violently disrupted when a vehicle plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably caused a rift among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and he enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. This household patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on just two things: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime depicting viewers who each family member represents, and how they add to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently introduces characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a real surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy before taking a sudden turn toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to immerse in its world before everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Origin
The film additionally presents a quite intriguing reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a new batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of background, the effect this condition has on people proves absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and they're almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
Even better than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some instances of dubious choices (like any typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find rather than standing still like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation toward one another feel far more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight about family or community, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are successful scares, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable
