Typically, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels mostly depleted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for some time. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Rhythm and Personal Development
One of this movie's greatest strengths is its superb pacing. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence where a peaceful family party is violently disrupted when a vehicle plows into the guest area. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a look back, allowing us to see the family before the disaster struck.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows viewers sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary personalities before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift among the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured yet socially awkward, and who loves playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on her. The family patriarch is Nes' father, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about just two things: his work and his wife to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion is extremely strained.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so engrossed in the household's issues and their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot this was a horror film—which might sound like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of the film depicting us who each relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This focus on conflicting traits enabled me to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat in a genre that often introduces characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a real surprise once events eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to making a sudden shift toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered as much on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to settle into its world prior to everything gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
The film additionally presents a fairly interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of a unintended lab leak or a type of biological weapon, the source of this infectious condition stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the movie had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to creating a lethal elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited background, the effect this affliction has on people is absolutely repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove quick, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and they're practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of dubious decision-making (as in typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to kick a zombie in the face, pierce it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like prey in headlights while danger nears.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been building for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters do show appreciation toward one another feel much more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight about family or community, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are successful frights, and since the film allows every personality enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining
