For the most part, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels mostly depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated turning out quite entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Character Development
Among the film's greatest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It begins using a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family gathering is violently interrupted by a van crashes right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see this household prior to the disaster struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. This has predictably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family head consists of her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so invested in the household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly forgot I was watching a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film to showing viewers who each relative represents, and how they add to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities enabled the audience to connect with the characters enough to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, so it's a genuine shock once events eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid humor before making a sudden shift toward "holy shit" ground. These early moments don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough opportunity to settle into its world before everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
This movie also offers a quite interesting reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the movie had spent a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the impact this affliction has on people is utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and are practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are a few instances of questionable decision-making (as in typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights while danger approaches.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—feel authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude for each other seem far more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message about family or community, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful frights, and since the film allows every personality enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
