Typically, I'm over undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels largely exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out quite enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
One of the film's greatest assets is its superb rhythm. It begins using a memorable initial scene in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough time to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has understandably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and he loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film to showing viewers who each family member represents, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to relate with the characters enough to care about their outcome—a rare feat for this style that often presents characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, so it's a genuine shock once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy before making an abrupt shift into shocking territory. These introductory moments don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Origin
This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this affliction produces on people proves utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, there are a few examples of dubious choices (like any typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find rather than standing still like prey caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, which was a welcome authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals express appreciation for each other feel far more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message about family or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are successful frights, and since the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable
