Generally speaking, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, the genre feels mostly depleted nowadays. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out quite entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Development
One of the film's strongest strengths lies in the excellent pacing. It kicks off with a striking opening sequence in which a calm family party is violently disrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to observe this household before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough time to become acquainted with the primary characters prior to the carnage begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable situation. This has understandably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted but socially awkward, and he enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on her. The family head consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and he appears to care about just two things: his work and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I almost forgot I was watching a horror film—something that could sound like a negative, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime depicting viewers who each family member is, plus the ways they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on clashing personalities allowed the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare feat in a genre that often introduces individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine shock when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes from the gathering and various family interactions in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before taking a sudden shift toward "holy shit" ground. These introductory scenes don't focus too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting before it gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious zombification. Instead of a unintended lab leak or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease stems from a new batch of Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a deadly potion that appears to contain a highly contagious virus. Regardless of the lack of background, the impact this condition has on people is utterly disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and they're almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
More impressive than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, we see a few examples of dubious choices (like any any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object they find instead of standing still like prey in headlights while danger approaches.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes on family conflict when people start turning to the undead, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also apparent she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. 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 toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and understandable since the movie doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters express appreciation toward one another seem far more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound insight regarding relatives or community, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are effective scares, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome proves an engaging and enjoyable
