Generally speaking, I'm over undead films. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels largely depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth
One of this movie's strongest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins using a memorable initial scene where a calm family party is violently disrupted by a vehicle crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe this household before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has understandably led to a falling out between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. The family patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on just two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot this was a horror film—which might seem like a negative, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film to showing viewers the identity of every relative is, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed me to relate with the characters enough to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style that often presents characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine shock once events eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and various household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to making an abrupt shift into shocking territory. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient time to immerse in its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this condition produces on people is utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and they're practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of dubious choices (like any typical zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with the nearest heavy object is available rather than freezing like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly 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 frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation for each other seem much more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message about family or community, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're successful scares, and since the film allows every personality enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
