Typically, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category seems mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth
Among this movie's strongest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It begins with a memorable opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to see the family before the disaster occurred.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough opportunity to get to know its main personalities prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. This has understandably led to a falling out among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and who loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. The family patriarch is her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so invested with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of the film to showing viewers who each relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled me to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often introduces individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a real surprise once events eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to taking an abrupt shift into "holy shit" territory. These early scenes aren't centered as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient time to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
This movie also offers a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the impact this condition has on humans proves absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
Even better compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some examples of dubious choices (as in typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object is available rather than freezing like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
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 subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude for each other seem far more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering frights. But they're successful frights, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining
