Typically, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Development
Among this movie's greatest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It begins with a memorable initial scene where a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle plows into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family before the disaster struck.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough opportunity to get to know its main personalities before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. The family patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two things: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so invested with this household's issues and their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, but in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime depicting viewers who each family member represents, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits allowed the audience to relate with the characters enough to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a real surprise once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to taking a sudden shift toward shocking ground. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to immerse in its world before everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie also offers a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, I wish the movie devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the impact this affliction has on humans is absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of dubious decision-making (like any typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like prey in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, this proved a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they decide over the phone to regroup at a close location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters express gratitude toward one another feel much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight about family or society, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're successful frights, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is an engaging and entertaining
