For the most part, I'm over undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre seems largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Growth
Among the film's greatest strengths is its excellent rhythm. It begins using a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is then followed by a look back, allowing us to see the family before the tragedy struck.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough time to become acquainted with the primary characters prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has predictably caused a falling out among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and he loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. This household patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a well-known herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot this was a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of the film depicting viewers the identity of every family member represents, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to relate to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—a rare feat for this style which frequently presents characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a real shock when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy prior to making a sudden shift toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments don't focus as much on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Origin
This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film had spent additional focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this condition produces on humans is absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and they're practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
Even better than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see some instances of dubious choices (like any typical undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever heavy object is available instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—feel authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude for each other feel far more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound message about family or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful scares, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable
