Generally speaking, I'm over undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Character Growth
Among the film's strongest strengths is its superb pacing. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence where a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted by a van plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough time to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably caused a rift between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so engrossed in the household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every relative is, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often introduces characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a genuine surprise once events eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama with slightly dark humor prior to making an abrupt shift toward shocking ground. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world before everything gets upended.
Unique Infection Origin
The film also offers a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the movie devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited background, the effect this condition produces on people is utterly disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite convincing, and are practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some instances of questionable choices (like any typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available rather than freezing like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, which was a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude for each other feel far more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message about family or community, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are successful scares, and because the movie gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable
