Generally speaking, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category feels mostly depleted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Development
Among this movie's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted by a van plows into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges and begins attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the tragedy struck.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has understandably caused a rift between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. The family head is her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who seems focused on only two aspects: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so invested with this household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime to showing viewers who each relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed the audience to relate with the characters enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise once events eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and various family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with slightly dark humor prior to making a sudden turn into shocking ground. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
The film additionally presents a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, I wish the movie had spent a little more time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this condition produces on people is absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite convincing, and they're practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of questionable choices (as in any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find rather than freezing like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, which was a welcome authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters do show gratitude toward one another feel far more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep message about family or society, either. Rather, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are successful scares, and since the movie gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and entertaining
