Typically, I'm over zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels largely exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. However, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Character Development
Among the film's greatest assets lies in the superb pacing. It begins using a memorable opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering is violently interrupted by a vehicle plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough time to become acquainted with its main characters before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. The family patriarch is her dad, who runs a popular herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime depicting us the identity of every family member is, plus the ways they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits allowed me to connect to the personalities enough to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently presents characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a real surprise once events eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama with slightly dark humor prior to taking a sudden shift into shocking ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough time to immerse in its world prior to everything gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
The film additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this condition has on humans is absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and are practically guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of dubious decision-making (as in any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find rather than standing still like prey caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people begin transforming into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters express appreciation toward one another feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message about family or community, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are effective scares, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
