Generally speaking, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category seems mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Growth
One of this movie's greatest assets lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is then succeeded by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household prior to the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has understandably caused a falling out among the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and he loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. This household patriarch consists of her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering is incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every relative represents, and how they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed me to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine shock when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a Korean drama with slightly dark humor prior to making a sudden shift into shocking territory. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to settle into the setting prior to it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the movie devoted additional focus on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this condition has on people is absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a daring decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite convincing, and they're almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some instances of questionable choices (like any typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available instead of standing still like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters do show appreciation toward one another seem much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message about family or society, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're effective scares, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and enjoyable