For the most part, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, this category feels largely exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Character Growth
Among the film's greatest assets is its excellent rhythm. It begins using a memorable opening sequence where a peaceful family party is violently disrupted when a vehicle crashes into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to see the family before the disaster occurred.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on Nes. This household patriarch is her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics and their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked this was a horror film—which might sound like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of the film depicting us who each family member represents, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing traits allowed me to relate to the personalities enough to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often introduces individuals only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy before making a sudden shift into shocking ground. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient time to immerse in its world before it gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Origin
The film also offers a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source of this contagious disease stems from a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. While some background is provided something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the film devoted additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to producing a lethal potion that appears to include a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this condition produces on humans is utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and are practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
Even better compared to the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some instances of dubious choices (as in any good zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, this proved a welcome realistic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household gets separated, they agree via telephone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters do show gratitude toward one another feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight about family or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. Yet these are effective frights, and since the film gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and entertaining
