For the most part, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems mostly depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. However, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Character Growth
One of this movie's strongest strengths is its excellent pacing. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene where a calm family gathering is violently interrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges and begins attacking the attendees. This intense moment is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe this household prior to the tragedy struck.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough time to get to know its main personalities before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. This has predictably caused a rift between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household head is her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits enabled me to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently introduces individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a real shock when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and various family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before taking a sudden shift toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments don't focus as much on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Origin
This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the movie had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir which seems to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect this condition produces on humans proves absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and are almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some instances of questionable choices (like any typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto bitterness 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 the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes those instances where these individuals express gratitude for each other seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight about family or society, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're successful scares, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and entertaining
