For the most part, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
Among this movie's greatest assets lies in the superb pacing. It begins using a striking initial scene where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a van crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough time to get to know its main characters before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has predictably caused a rift between the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but socially awkward, and he enjoys gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on only two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime to showing us the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, so it's a real surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy prior to taking a sudden turn into "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to settle into the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the movie devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this condition has on people proves utterly disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite convincing, and are almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some examples of questionable decision-making (like any typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, this proved a welcome realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide over the phone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes those instances where these individuals express gratitude toward one another seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight about family or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are successful scares, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and entertaining
