Typically, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels largely exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Character Growth
One of the film's strongest strengths is its excellent rhythm. It begins using a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to observe this household before the tragedy occurred.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough opportunity to get to know its main personalities before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose former close friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and he appears focused on just two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime depicting viewers who each family member is, and how they add to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on clashing personalities enabled the audience to relate with the characters enough to care about their outcome—a rare feat for this style that often introduces characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a genuine shock once events finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to taking an abrupt turn toward shocking ground. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to immerse in the setting before everything gets upended.
Original Infection Source
The film also offers a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although some background is provided something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited context, the impact this condition produces on humans is absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and are practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of questionable choices (as in typical zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like prey caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, this proved a welcome realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals do show appreciation for each other seem much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's mostly delivering scares. But they're successful scares, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves a captivating and enjoyable
