For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category seems mostly depleted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Personal Growth
Among the film's greatest assets lies in the superb pacing. It begins with a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family party is violently disrupted when a vehicle plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe the family prior to the disaster occurred.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives viewers sufficient time to become acquainted with the primary characters prior to the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably caused a rift among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch is her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so invested with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime to showing us who each relative is, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled me to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently introduces characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a real shock when things eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy prior to taking a sudden turn into shocking territory. These early scenes aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough time to immerse in the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Origin
The film also offers a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of background, the impact this affliction has on humans is absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and are almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of dubious decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like a deer in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals express gratitude toward one another feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message about family or community, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are successful scares, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and entertaining
