Generally speaking, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category feels largely depleted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Superb Rhythm and Character Development
One of the film's greatest strengths is its superb pacing. It begins with a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family gathering is violently disrupted by a van crashes into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see this household before the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably led to a falling out among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch is her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.
Invested 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 horror film—which might seem like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime to showing us the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities allowed the audience to connect with the characters enough to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style that often presents individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a real shock once events eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to taking an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments aren't centered as much on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to immerse in the setting before it gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Source
The film also offers a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, I wish the movie devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this condition has on people proves utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and they're practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of dubious choices (like any typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object they find instead of standing still like prey in headlights as death nears.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation for each other feel far more sincere.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message about family or society, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're successful scares, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining
