Typically, I'm over undead films. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Development
Among the film's strongest strengths is its excellent rhythm. It begins using a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family party is violently disrupted by a van crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual emerges and begins attacking the attendees. This intense scene is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family prior to the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient time to get to know its main personalities prior to the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. This household head is her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked this was a horror film—which might sound like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film depicting viewers the identity of every relative is, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to connect to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often introduces characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a real surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before making an abrupt turn toward shocking territory. These early scenes don't focus as much on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Original Infection Source
The film additionally presents a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the film had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the effect this affliction produces on humans is utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and they're practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
More impressive compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are a few instances of dubious decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find instead of freezing like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains clinging to bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances where these individuals express appreciation toward one another seem much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message about family or community, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up scares. Yet these are successful frights, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and enjoyable
