Generally speaking, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved quite entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Development
Among the film's greatest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable opening sequence in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted when a van plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is then followed by a look back, allowing us to observe the family prior to the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough opportunity to get to know its main characters prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but socially awkward, and who enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. This household patriarch is her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime depicting us the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits allowed me to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat for this style which frequently introduces individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine shock when things finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy before taking an abrupt turn into "holy shit" ground. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough time to settle into the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Origin
The film additionally presents a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the movie had spent additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly potion which seems to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this affliction produces on people proves absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and are almost certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of questionable choices (as in any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find instead of standing still like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, which was a welcome realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances where these individuals express appreciation for each other feel far more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are effective frights, and because the film allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
