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 proved enjoyable, this category feels mostly depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for months. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated turning out quite enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Character Development
One of the film's greatest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins using a striking initial scene where a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted when a vehicle plows into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding attacking the attendees. This intense scene is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see this household prior to the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and who loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a popular herbal remedy business named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so invested in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot this was a scary movie—something that could seem like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime depicting us the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to relate with the characters sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat for this style that often presents characters only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, so it's a genuine shock once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy before making an abrupt shift toward shocking ground. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient time to settle into the setting prior to it gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a quite intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by Nes' father. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the film devoted a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the lack of background, the effect this condition has on humans is utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also very realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better compared to the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of dubious choices (like any typical zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her family are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like a deer in headlights as death nears.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its themes on family conflict once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she's still clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to regroup at a nearby spot. 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 brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another seem far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
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 some profound message about family or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're successful frights, and since the film gives each character enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is an engaging and enjoyable
