For the most part, I've grown tired of undead films. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels largely depleted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Growth
One of this movie's greatest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted when a vehicle plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense moment is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family prior to the tragedy occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main characters before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has understandably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who loves playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on Nes. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so engrossed in the household's issues and their personal conflicts that I almost forgot this was a scary movie—something that could sound like a negative, yet in the end worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of the film depicting viewers the identity of every relative represents, and how they add to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed me to connect with the characters enough to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often presents individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters 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 scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy before taking an abrupt turn into shocking ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world before it gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Source
This movie additionally presents a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a new sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, I wish the movie devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir which seems to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the limited background, the impact this condition produces on humans proves absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and are almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some examples of questionable choices (like any typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger approaches.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, this proved a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still clinging to bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals express appreciation for each other seem much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message about family or society, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're effective frights, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
