Generally speaking, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems largely depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Character Growth
One of this movie's strongest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It begins using a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted when a van crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to see this household before the disaster struck.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers sufficient time to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. The family head consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so invested in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot this was a horror film—which might sound like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime depicting viewers who each family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits allowed the audience to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre that often introduces characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a real shock when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to making a sudden turn toward shocking ground. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives enough time to immerse in its world prior to everything gets upended.
Unique Infection Origin
The film additionally presents a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the film had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the impact this condition has on people proves utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and are practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of questionable choices (as in any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than freezing like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict once individuals begin transforming into zombies, this proved a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals express gratitude toward one another feel much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight about family or society, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. Yet these are effective frights, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining
