Typically, I'm over zombie movies. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems mostly depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. However, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Development
One of the film's strongest assets lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off using a memorable opening sequence in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges and begins attacking the attendees. This intense scene is then followed by a look back, allowing us to see this household before the disaster struck.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably caused a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. This household head is her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on just two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is extremely strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot I was watching a horror film—which might sound like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime depicting us the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed me to relate with the characters enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often introduces individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, so it's a real surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before making an abrupt shift into "holy shit" ground. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting before everything gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
The film also offers a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a new batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion which seems to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this affliction has on people proves absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and are almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are a few examples of questionable decision-making (as in typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude for each other feel far more sincere.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or community, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful scares, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and entertaining
