For the most part, I'm over undead films. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels largely exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. However, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Development
Among the film's strongest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It begins with a striking opening sequence in which a calm family gathering is violently disrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to observe this household before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but socially awkward, and who enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. This household patriarch is her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two things: his work and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked this was a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of the film depicting us who each relative is, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed me to relate with the characters enough to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style that often presents individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine shock once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to making an abrupt shift toward shocking ground. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to immerse in the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
This movie additionally presents a quite intriguing reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this condition produces on humans proves absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very convincing, and they're practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some examples of questionable choices (as in any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger approaches.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. 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 isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals do show appreciation for each other seem much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are successful scares, and because the movie gives each character enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
