Generally speaking, I'm over undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels largely exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth
Among this movie's greatest assets is its superb rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a van plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is then succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see the family prior to the disaster occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough time to get to know the primary characters before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably led to a rift between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. This household patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime depicting viewers who each family member is, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled the audience to relate with the characters enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat for this style that often introduces individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise once events finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor before making a sudden turn toward "holy shit" territory. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to settle into the setting before it gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
The film also offers a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the movie had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this condition produces on humans is utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and are almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of questionable decision-making (as in typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like prey caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes those instances when these characters express gratitude toward one another seem far more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message about family or society, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are effective scares, and since the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
