Generally speaking, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Character Growth
One of this movie's strongest assets is its superb rhythm. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence in which a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the disaster occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient time to get to know its main personalities prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. 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, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family head is Nes' father, the owner of a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is extremely strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so invested in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly forgot this was a horror film—which might seem like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every family member is, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often introduces characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a real shock when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy prior to taking an abrupt shift into shocking territory. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Original Infection Source
This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease originates in a recent batch of 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 movie devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal potion that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of background, the effect this condition produces on people is utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
Even better compared to the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of questionable decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals express appreciation for each other seem far more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message about family or community, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. Yet these are successful frights, and because the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and entertaining
