Generally speaking, I'm over undead films. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels largely depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Growth
One of the film's strongest assets is its excellent pacing. It begins with a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted when a van crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is then followed by a look back, allowing us to observe this household before the disaster struck.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough time to get to know its main characters prior to the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. This has predictably caused a falling out among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured but socially awkward, and who loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. This household head consists of Nes' father, the owner of a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two things: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly forgot this was a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime to showing viewers who each relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities enabled me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real surprise once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and various family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy before making a sudden turn into "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient time to immerse in its world before everything gets upended.
Original Infection Origin
The film also offers a quite intriguing reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this affliction has on humans proves utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and are practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
Even better than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are a few instances of questionable choices (as in any good undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument is available instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals express gratitude for each other seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message about family or community, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're successful scares, and because the film allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and entertaining
