Generally speaking, I've had my fill of zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems mostly depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved quite entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Development
One of this movie's strongest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to see this household before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know its main personalities before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and who loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues and their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film to showing viewers who each relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing traits enabled the audience to connect with the characters enough to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat for this style which frequently presents individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine shock when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor before taking an abrupt shift toward shocking territory. These early moments don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient time to settle into the setting prior to it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
This movie also offers a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal potion which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this condition produces on people proves absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and are practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some examples of questionable decision-making (as in any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object they find rather than freezing like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals express gratitude for each other seem much more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message about family or society, as well. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're effective scares, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable
