Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems largely exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Growth
Among this movie's strongest strengths is its superb pacing. It begins with a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but socially awkward, and he loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime depicting us who each relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities allowed the audience to relate to the personalities enough to care about their fate—a rare feat for this style which frequently presents characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a genuine surprise once events eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to making a sudden turn toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
This movie also offers a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition originates in a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a deadly elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this condition has on people proves absolutely disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and are almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some examples of questionable choices (as in typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another seem much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight about family or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're successful frights, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and entertaining