For the most part, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels mostly depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Character Growth
Among the film's greatest assets is its superb pacing. It begins using a memorable initial scene in which a calm family gathering is violently disrupted when a van plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family prior to the disaster struck.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has predictably led to a rift among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and he loves playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household head is her dad, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on only two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is extremely strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of the film to showing us who each relative represents, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often presents characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a genuine surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before making an abrupt turn into "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world prior to everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Origin
The film also offers a quite interesting reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the film devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect this condition has on people proves absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and are practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of questionable choices (as in any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument is available instead of freezing like prey in headlights as death nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains clinging to bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation for each other feel far more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message regarding relatives or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're successful frights, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is an engaging and entertaining
