For the most part, I'm over undead films. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Superb Rhythm and Character Development
One of the film's strongest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges and begins attacking the attendees. This intense moment is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough opportunity to get to know its main characters before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has predictably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. The family patriarch is her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues and their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might sound like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of the film depicting us the identity of every relative represents, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled the audience to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a real surprise when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor before making an abrupt shift toward shocking ground. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to settle into the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Source
This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although some background is provided something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the effect this affliction produces on humans proves absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and they're almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of questionable choices (like any typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, this proved 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!" cliché often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters express gratitude toward one another seem far more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are successful frights, and since the movie gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and entertaining
