Generally speaking, I'm over undead films. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre seems largely exhausted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Character Development
Among the film's greatest strengths lies in the superb rhythm. It kicks off with a striking initial scene in which a peaceful family party is violently interrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking stranger stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household before the disaster struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough time to get to know its main characters prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household patriarch is her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two aspects: his work and his wife to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves extremely strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot this was a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant portion of its runtime to showing us the identity of every family member is, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities allowed the audience to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently presents individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a real shock once events eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and various family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy prior to making a sudden shift into shocking ground. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting prior to it gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
The film additionally presents a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While some background is provided a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the film had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal potion that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the effect this affliction has on humans is utterly disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of dubious decision-making (as in any good undead film), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like prey in headlights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people start turning into zombies, which was a welcome realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains holding onto resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a nearby location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and relatable because the film avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals do show gratitude for each other seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight about family or society, either. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. Yet these are effective scares, and since the film allows every personality sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and enjoyable
