🔗 Share this article

Typically, I'm over apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category seems mostly depleted at this point. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. However, the platform's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved quite entertaining.

Superb Rhythm and Personal Growth

Among the film's greatest assets is its superb pacing. It begins with a striking opening sequence where a peaceful family party gets suddenly interrupted when a van plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to see the family prior to the disaster occurred.

In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities before the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex close friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured but socially awkward, and who loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. The family head is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine company called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two things: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely strained.

Engaged in the Conflict

I became so engrossed with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot I was watching a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime depicting viewers who each family member is, plus the ways they add to the general dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits allowed me to relate to the personalities enough to care about their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently presents individuals only to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real shock when things finally go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial scenes from the gathering and various household exchanges in fact evoke the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor before making a sudden turn toward "holy shit" ground. These early scenes aren't centered as much on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still provides sufficient time to immerse in its world prior to everything gets upended.

Original Infection Origin

The film also offers a quite intriguing explanation for the source of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a recent sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by Nes' father. Although some background is provided something regarding how it started, I wish the movie had spent additional focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly potion that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect this condition produces on humans proves absolutely repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This represents a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite convincing, and are practically guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.

Resourceful Characters

Even better than the disgusting scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are some examples of dubious choices (as in typical zombie movie), but generally, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick an undead in the head, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than freezing like prey in headlights as death approaches.

Believable Familial Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes isn't flawless, and her family—flawed as it is—seem realistic and relatable because the film doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters do show appreciation for each other feel much more sincere.

Stereotypical Ending

In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending must be said to be somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. But they're successful frights, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable