Typically, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated turning out quite entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Character Growth
Among this movie's greatest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It begins with a striking initial scene where a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family before the tragedy struck.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough time to become acquainted with its main personalities before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. This has predictably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and he loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household patriarch is her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two things: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so invested with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime to showing us the identity of every relative represents, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to connect with the characters enough to care about their outcome—a rare feat for this style that often introduces characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine shock once events eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to taking an abrupt shift into shocking ground. These early moments don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient time to settle into its world before it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
The film also offers a quite interesting explanation for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although some background is provided 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 elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited context, the effect this affliction produces on people is absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of questionable decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters express gratitude for each other feel far more sincere.
Stereotypical 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 regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're successful scares, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable
