Generally speaking, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved quite entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Character Growth
Among the film's strongest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene in which a peaceful family gathering is violently interrupted when a van plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges and begins attacking the attendees. This intense scene is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family prior to the tragedy occurred.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with the primary characters prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. The family head is her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so invested with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked this was a horror film—which might sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of the film depicting us the identity of every relative represents, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled me to relate with the characters enough to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often presents characters only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to consume, thus it's a real shock when things eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to making a sudden turn toward "holy shit" ground. These early moments aren't centered as much on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough opportunity to settle into the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Original Infection Source
This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the movie devoted additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir which seems to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of background, the impact this affliction produces on people proves absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and they're practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, there are a few examples of dubious decision-making (like any typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic films. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters do show gratitude for each other seem far more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep message about family or community, as well. Instead, it's primarily serving up frights. But they're successful frights, and since the film gives each character enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and entertaining
