Typically, I've grown tired of zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems largely 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 zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.
Superb Rhythm and Character Growth
One of the film's strongest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It begins using a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family party is violently disrupted by a van crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family prior to the tragedy occurred.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably caused a falling out among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. This household patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who appears focused on only two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of the film to showing viewers the identity of every relative represents, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed me to relate with the characters enough to care about their outcome—a rare feat for this style which frequently presents individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a real shock once events finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and various family interactions actually evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy prior to taking an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to immerse in its world before everything gets upended.
Unique Infection Origin
The film also offers a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the film devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the impact this condition produces on people proves utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and they're almost certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of dubious decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters express appreciation toward one another seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. But they're effective scares, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
