For the most part, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category seems mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Superb Rhythm and Personal Growth
Among this movie's greatest strengths is its excellent pacing. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted by a van plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe the family before the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough time to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. The family patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on only two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could sound like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of the film to showing us who each family member represents, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing personalities allowed the audience to relate with the characters enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat in a genre which frequently presents characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a real surprise once events eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark humor before making a sudden shift toward "holy shit" territory. These early moments don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Origin
This movie additionally presents a quite intriguing reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of context, the impact this condition has on humans is utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and are practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
More impressive than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of dubious choices (like any typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters express gratitude for each other feel far more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message regarding relatives or community, as well. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are successful scares, and since the film gives each character enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining
