For the most part, I've had my fill of zombie movies. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels mostly exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. However, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth
One of the film's greatest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a memorable opening sequence where a calm family gathering is violently interrupted when a vehicle plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense moment is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe the family prior to the disaster struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough opportunity to get to know the primary characters before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. This household head is her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime depicting us the identity of every relative is, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits enabled the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon accomplishment 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 a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine shock once events eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to taking a sudden turn toward "holy shit" ground. These early moments don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to settle into its world before everything gets upended.
Unique Infection Origin
This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended lab leak or a type of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the movie devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this condition has on people proves absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
More impressive than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of dubious choices (like any any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters do show appreciation for each other feel much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message about family or community, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. Yet these are successful frights, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
