Typically, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems mostly exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Character Growth
One of this movie's greatest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off with a striking initial scene where a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see the family before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough time to become acquainted with its main characters prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and he loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. The family patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so invested in the family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime depicting viewers who each relative represents, and how they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled me to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style which frequently introduces individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to devour, so it's a real shock when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor prior to making a sudden turn toward shocking territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient time to settle into the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Source
The film additionally presents a quite interesting explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a new batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although some background is provided something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the film devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir which seems to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect this affliction has on people is absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite convincing, and are almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
Even better compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of questionable decision-making (as in typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like prey in headlights while danger nears.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, which was 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 everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal 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 is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—feel authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters express appreciation for each other feel much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message about family or society, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. Yet these are effective scares, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and enjoyable
