Typically, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels largely depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Character Growth
One of the film's strongest strengths is its superb rhythm. It begins using a memorable initial scene where a calm family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a van crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see this household prior to the tragedy occurred.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough opportunity to get to know its main characters before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. This has understandably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured but socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two things: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime depicting us who each relative is, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled me to relate to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine shock when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to making an abrupt shift toward shocking territory. These early moments don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to immerse in the setting before it gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
The film additionally presents a quite interesting explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease originates in a new batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the movie devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this affliction produces on humans is utterly disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and they're almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some examples of dubious decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family are resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like prey in headlights as death nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, which was a welcome authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters express appreciation for each other feel far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight about family or society, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're effective frights, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
