Generally speaking, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, succeeded in defy my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Superb Rhythm and Character Development
One of this movie's strongest assets lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence in which a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle plows right into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then followed by a look back, giving viewers to see the family prior to the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually gives the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has understandably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and he loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. This household head is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts that I nearly forgot I was watching a horror film—which might seem like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime to showing us the identity of every family member represents, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting traits enabled me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often presents individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for an army of zombies to devour, so it's a real surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy before taking a sudden shift into shocking ground. These early scenes don't focus as much on humor as Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides enough time to settle into the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
The film additionally presents a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a recent batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, I wish the film devoted additional time on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of background, the impact this condition produces on people proves absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and they're practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of questionable choices (like any typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument they find instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, this proved a welcome authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters do show gratitude for each other seem much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message regarding relatives or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are successful scares, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and entertaining
