Generally speaking, I'm over undead films. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels mostly exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Personal Growth
Among this movie's greatest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a van plows right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This intense moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household prior to the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient time to get to know its main personalities prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has understandably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch is her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two aspects: his business and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues and their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film to showing us who each family member is, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits enabled me to connect with the characters enough to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often presents characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a genuine surprise once events eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to taking a sudden shift into shocking territory. These introductory moments aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to settle into the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Source
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this condition produces on humans is utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of dubious decision-making (as in any good zombie movie), but for the most part, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object is available rather than standing still like prey in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes those instances when these characters do show appreciation toward one another feel far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep message about family or community, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're successful frights, and because the movie gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
