For the most part, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels largely exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Character Growth
One of the film's strongest assets is its excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family party is violently interrupted when a vehicle plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe the family before the disaster struck.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient time to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has understandably led to a rift among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family head is Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime depicting us the identity of every family member represents, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits enabled me to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often introduces individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine shock when things eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and various household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before taking an abrupt shift into "holy shit" ground. These early moments don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Origin
The film additionally presents a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the effect this affliction has on humans is absolutely disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring choice, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and are practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
More impressive than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some instances of dubious decision-making (like any typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon 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 you almost died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters do show gratitude toward one another seem much more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight about family or community, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up scares. Yet these are successful scares, and since the film gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
