Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category feels largely exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Superb Pacing and Character Development
One of the film's strongest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It kicks off with a striking initial scene where a peaceful family party is violently interrupted when a van plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient time to get to know the primary personalities before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. This has predictably caused a rift among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. The family head consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two things: his business and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues and their personal conflicts to the point I nearly overlooked this was a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film depicting viewers who each family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits allowed me to relate to the personalities enough to care about their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently presents characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a real surprise when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before taking an abrupt shift into "holy shit" territory. These early moments don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient time to settle into its world before everything gets upended.
Unique Infection Origin
This movie additionally presents a quite interesting reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the movie devoted a little more time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a lethal potion that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the effect this condition produces on people proves utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
Even better than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of questionable choices (as in any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like prey in headlights as death nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals begin transforming into zombies, this proved a welcome authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché often seen in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters do show appreciation for each other seem much more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight about family or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're effective scares, and since the film allows every personality enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
