For the most part, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Character Development
One of the film's greatest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It begins with a memorable opening sequence where a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking stranger emerges and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family before the disaster occurred.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough opportunity to get to know the primary characters prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably caused a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. The family head is her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so invested in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of the film depicting us the identity of every family member is, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed me to relate to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently presents characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, so it's a genuine shock when things eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy before making a sudden turn into shocking ground. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient time to settle into its world prior to it gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
The film additionally presents a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease originates in a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to producing a lethal potion that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this condition has on people proves utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and they're almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of questionable decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find rather than standing still like a deer in headlights as death approaches.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters express gratitude toward one another seem much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are successful frights, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is an engaging and entertaining
