Generally speaking, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category feels mostly depleted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting 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 turning out quite enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Development
One of this movie's greatest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It begins using a striking initial scene where a calm family gathering is violently interrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary personalities before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. This has understandably caused a rift between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. The family patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a well-known herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so invested with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, so it's a real shock once events eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor before making an abrupt shift into shocking territory. These early scenes don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to immerse in its world before it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
This movie also offers a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more focus 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. Despite the limited background, the effect this affliction produces on people proves utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear very realistic, and are almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, there are a few examples of dubious choices (as in typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like a deer in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters do show gratitude for each other seem much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are successful frights, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining
