🔗 Share this article

Generally speaking, I'm over undead films. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category seems largely exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, the platform's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated and proved remarkably entertaining.

Superb Rhythm and Character Development

Among this movie's greatest assets lies in the superb pacing. It begins with a striking opening sequence in which a calm family party is violently disrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, a very undead-looking individual emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to observe this household before the disaster struck.

In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives viewers sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary characters before the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has predictably led to a falling out between the two women. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured yet a bit inept socially, and he loves playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch consists of her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on just two aspects: his business and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely tense.

Invested in the Conflict

I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot this was a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, but ultimately paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of the film to showing us the identity of every relative is, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled the audience to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat in a genre that often presents individuals only to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, so it's a genuine surprise when things eventually go wrong.

Evocative of Parasite

The initial scenes from the gathering and various family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama with slightly dark comedy prior to making an abrupt shift into shocking ground. These introductory moments aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in its world prior to everything gets turned upside down.

Original Zombification Source

The film additionally presents a fairly interesting explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the source of this contagious disease originates in a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although some background is provided something regarding how it started, I wish the movie had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a lethal potion that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the limited background, the effect this condition produces on people proves utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and are practically guaranteed to provoke a fear of holes.

Resourceful Personalities

Even better than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, there are a few examples of questionable choices (as in typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her family are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object they find rather than freezing like prey caught in lights while danger approaches.

Believable Familial Strike

The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and cares about her spouse, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. When the family gets separated, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby location. However, once Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses an immense level of irritation toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude for each other seem much more genuine.

Stereotypical Ending

In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight about family or community, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful frights, and since the film allows every personality enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable