For the most part, I'm over undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Character Growth
Among the film's greatest strengths is its excellent pacing. It begins with a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family gathering is violently interrupted when a vehicle plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense moment is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see this household prior to the tragedy occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has understandably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about only two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime depicting us who each relative is, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits allowed me to connect to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a real surprise once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and various household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to making a sudden shift toward shocking territory. These early moments don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient time to immerse in its world before everything gets upended.
Unique Infection Source
The film also offers a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this affliction produces on people is utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and they're practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of dubious decision-making (as in typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like prey caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, this proved a welcome authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters do show appreciation for each other feel far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message regarding relatives or society, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're effective frights, and because the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and entertaining
