Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category seems largely exhausted at this point. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting on my to-watch queue for some time. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Personal Development
One of the film's greatest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It begins using a striking opening sequence where a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted by a van plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see the family prior to the tragedy occurred.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience enough opportunity to get to know the primary characters before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has predictably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and who enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. The family head consists of her dad, who runs a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is incredibly tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so invested in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could sound like a drawback, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of its runtime depicting us the identity of every family member represents, and how they contribute to the general dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities allowed me to connect to the personalities enough to care about their fate—a rare feat for this style which frequently presents characters only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of zombies to consume, thus it's a genuine shock when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and various household exchanges actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark humor prior to taking an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" territory. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to immerse in its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Infection Source
The film additionally presents a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. While we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the film devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the effect this affliction produces on people is absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite realistic, and are practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
More impressive compared to the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, there are a few instances of questionable decision-making (as in any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her relatives are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object is available instead of freezing like prey in headlights while danger nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in end-of-world films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains 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. However, once Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This causes the moments when these characters express appreciation toward one another seem much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight about family or society, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering frights. Yet these are effective scares, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and entertaining
