For the most part, I've grown tired of undead films. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems mostly depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth
Among the film's greatest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It begins using a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. This household patriarch is her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is extremely strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this household's issues and their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot this was a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled me to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat for this style which frequently introduces characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise once events eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before taking a sudden shift into shocking ground. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
The film additionally presents a fairly interesting reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the effect this affliction produces on people is absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and are practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of dubious decision-making (as in typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals express gratitude for each other seem much more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're effective frights, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable
