For the most part, I've had my fill of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels mostly depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved quite entertaining.
Superb Rhythm and Personal Development
Among this movie's strongest assets is its superb rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering is violently interrupted by a van crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to see this household before the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex close friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has understandably caused a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. The family head consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two aspects: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked this was a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime to showing viewers who each family member is, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled me to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style that often presents individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine shock once events finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy before making a sudden shift into shocking territory. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient time to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Source
The film additionally presents a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of background, the impact this affliction has on humans proves absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and they're practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some examples of questionable choices (like any typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object they find instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals express gratitude toward one another seem much more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message regarding relatives or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're effective frights, and since the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
