For the most part, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels largely exhausted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later has been gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Superb Rhythm and Character Development
One of this movie's greatest strengths is its excellent rhythm. It begins using a striking initial scene where a calm family party is violently disrupted by a vehicle crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger stumbles out proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is then followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family prior to the tragedy struck.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough opportunity to get to know the primary characters prior to the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother whose ex close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet socially awkward, and who loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. This household head is Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is incredibly tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this household's issues along with their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked this was a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime depicting viewers who each relative represents, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled me to relate with the characters enough to be concerned for their outcome—an uncommon feat for this style that often presents individuals just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a real surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself like a K-Drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to taking a sudden shift toward "holy shit" ground. These early moments don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives enough opportunity to settle into its world prior to it gets upended.
Original Infection Origin
The film additionally presents a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than a unintended lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the cause of this infectious condition stems from a new sample from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the film devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion which seems to include a highly contagious virus. Despite the limited background, the impact this affliction has on people proves absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and they're practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Personalities
Even better than the gross-out moments are the characters themselves. Of course, there are some examples of dubious choices (as in any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, which was a welcome realistic 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 relatives and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a close spot. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals express gratitude toward one another feel much more genuine.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. Yet these are successful frights, and since the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
