Generally speaking, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, the genre feels mostly exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved quite entertaining.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Growth
Among this movie's greatest assets is its excellent pacing. It kicks off using a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense moment is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to observe the family before the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with its main characters before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has understandably caused a rift among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed with this household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime to showing us who each family member is, and how they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing traits allowed me to relate with the characters enough to care about their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a genuine shock once events finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama with slightly dark humor prior to taking a sudden shift into shocking ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough time to immerse in its world prior to everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
The film additionally presents a quite intriguing explanation 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 originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. While we do learn something regarding its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this condition produces on humans is absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and are almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few instances of dubious decision-making (as in any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object is available rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto bitterness over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters do show gratitude toward one another seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound insight regarding relatives or community, as well. Instead, it's mostly delivering frights. Yet these are effective scares, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is an engaging and enjoyable
