For the most part, I've had my fill of undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category feels largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Superb Rhythm and Personal Growth
One of the film's strongest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence where a peaceful family party is violently disrupted when a van plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient time to get to know the primary characters prior to the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch is her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so invested in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of the film depicting us the identity of every family member is, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities enabled the audience to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre that often introduces individuals just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise 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 which disguises itself like a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy before making an abrupt turn into "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient time to immerse in its world before everything gets upended.
Unique Infection Origin
The film also offers a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the movie had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect this condition produces on humans proves absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite convincing, and are practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
More impressive than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of questionable decision-making (as in any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available instead of standing still like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters express appreciation for each other feel much 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 offering up some profound insight about family or society, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are effective scares, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining