Generally speaking, I'm over undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems largely depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Superb Rhythm and Character Development
One of this movie's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It begins using a striking initial scene where a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted by a van plows into the seating section. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe this household before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough opportunity to get to know its main personalities before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has predictably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household patriarch is her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot this was a horror film—something that could sound like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime to showing us who each family member represents, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled me to relate with the characters enough to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently presents characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, so it's a genuine shock when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to taking a sudden turn toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments aren't centered as much on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient time to settle into the setting prior to it gets upended.
Original Infection Source
The film additionally presents a fairly interesting reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir which seems to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited context, the impact this condition produces on people is utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and they're almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some instances of questionable choices (as in any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, which was a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to 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. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters do show appreciation for each other feel far more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message about family or community, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. Yet these are successful scares, and since the film allows every personality enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable
