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 were gripping, this category feels largely exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.
Superb Rhythm and Personal Development
One of the film's strongest strengths is its superb pacing. It kicks off using a striking opening sequence where a calm family party is violently interrupted when a van plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see this household before the disaster occurred.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities before the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a falling out among the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and who loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. The family head is her dad, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly forgot I was watching a horror film—which might sound like a drawback, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime to showing us the identity of every family member is, and how they add to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment for this style that often introduces characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, so it's a real shock when things eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy before making an abrupt turn toward shocking territory. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives enough time to settle into its world before it gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Source
This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the impact this affliction produces on humans is utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold choice, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of dubious choices (as in typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than freezing like prey in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people start turning into zombies, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances when these characters express gratitude toward one another seem much more sincere.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're effective frights, and because the movie gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the outcome proves a captivating and entertaining
