Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems largely exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Growth
One of this movie's greatest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It begins with a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a van crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This intense scene is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to see this household before the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough time to become acquainted with the primary characters before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has predictably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on just two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of the film depicting viewers the identity of every family member represents, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits allowed me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their outcome—a rare feat in a genre which frequently presents individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a real shock once events eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a Korean drama with slightly dark humor prior to taking an abrupt turn toward "holy shit" territory. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient time to immerse in the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the film had spent additional time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly potion that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited background, the impact this affliction produces on people proves utterly disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very convincing, and are almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of dubious choices (like any typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of freezing like prey in headlights as death nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming into zombies, which was a welcome realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close location. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances when these characters express appreciation for each other seem much more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message about family or community, as well. Instead, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're successful frights, and because the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining
