Generally speaking, I'm over undead films. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems mostly depleted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Character Development
One of the film's strongest assets lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is then followed by a look back, allowing us to see this household before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary characters before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. This has understandably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured but socially awkward, and he enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film depicting viewers the identity of every family member is, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities allowed me to relate with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style that often presents individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real shock when things finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to taking an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" territory. These early scenes aren't centered as much on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Origin
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the impact this condition produces on humans proves utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and are almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of dubious decision-making (like any typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of freezing like prey in headlights while danger approaches.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes those instances when these characters do show appreciation toward one another feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message regarding relatives or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're successful frights, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
