🔗 Share this article

Generally speaking, I've grown tired of zombie movies. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably enjoyable.

Excellent Rhythm and Character Development

Among the film's strongest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It begins with a memorable opening sequence where a peaceful family party is violently disrupted by a van plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is then succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see this household prior to the disaster struck.

In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers enough time to get to know its main personalities prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably caused a rift between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as good-natured yet socially awkward, and he loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. This household patriarch consists of Nes' father, who runs a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two aspects: his business and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves extremely strained.

Engaged in the Conflict

I found myself so engrossed with this household's issues and their personal conflicts that I almost forgot this was a horror film—which might sound like a drawback, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film depicting us who each family member is, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on clashing personalities allowed me to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat in a genre that often introduces individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to consume, so it's a genuine shock once events finally go wrong.

Reminiscent of Parasite

The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid comedy prior to taking an abrupt shift into "holy shit" ground. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient time to settle into its world before everything gets turned upside down.

Unique Infection Origin

This movie additionally presents a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source for this contagious disease stems from a new batch from 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 a little more time on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to producing a lethal elixir which seems to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the effect this condition produces on humans is absolutely repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and are almost certain to provoke one's trypophobia.

Resourceful Personalities

Even better than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of dubious decision-making (as in any good undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than freezing like a deer in headlights as death nears.

Believable Familial Discord

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals begin transforming into zombies, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, but it's also apparent 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 nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes a massive level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been building for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem authentic and understandable because the film doesn't try to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments where these individuals express appreciation toward one another feel far more sincere.

Stereotypical Conclusion

In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're successful scares, and since the movie gives each character sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves an engaging and entertaining