For the most part, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Development
One of the film's greatest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off using a memorable opening sequence where a peaceful family party is violently interrupted when a vehicle crashes into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking stranger emerges and begins attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to see the family before the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, is now married to Nes' father—a clearly awkward dynamic. This has predictably led to a falling out between the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he seems focused on just two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot this was a horror film—which might seem like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime depicting us who each relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat for this style that often introduces characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a genuine surprise when things finally deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy before making an abrupt turn into shocking ground. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to immerse in the setting prior to it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
The film additionally presents a quite interesting reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding its origins, I wish the film had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited background, the effect this condition has on people is absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear very convincing, and they're practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of questionable choices (like any any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find instead of standing still like a deer in headlights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still holding onto bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters express gratitude toward one another seem far more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight about family or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're successful scares, and since the movie gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
