For the most part, I'm over undead films. While classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for months. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Development
One of the film's greatest assets is its excellent pacing. It begins using a striking initial scene in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a van plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger emerges and begins attacking the attendees. This intense moment is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to see this household prior to the tragedy occurred.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary personalities before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has understandably led to a falling out among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family head is Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two things: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I almost forgot this was a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every family member is, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed me to connect with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre that often introduces individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy before making an abrupt shift into "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives enough opportunity to settle into its world before it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
The film additionally presents a quite intriguing reason for the source of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although some background is provided something regarding how it started, I wish the movie had spent additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited context, the effect this condition produces on people proves absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear very convincing, and are almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of questionable choices (like any any good undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals express appreciation toward one another feel much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. But they're effective frights, and because the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining
