Generally speaking, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems mostly exhausted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting on my to-watch queue for months. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations and proved quite enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Character Development
Among the film's greatest strengths is its excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted by a van crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the partygoers. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to see this household before the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers enough time to get to know the primary personalities prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become married to Nes' father—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has predictably caused a falling out between Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he loves gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. This household head consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and he seems focused on just two aspects: his business and his marriage to his daughter's former best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Drama
I found myself so invested with this family's dynamics along with their interpersonal drama to the point I nearly overlooked this was a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, yet ultimately paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of its runtime to showing us who each family member represents, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre which frequently introduces characters just to eliminate them soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine shock once events eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial scenes of the party and various family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring slightly dark comedy prior to making a sudden turn into "holy shit" territory. These early moments don't focus too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient opportunity to settle into the setting before it gets upended.
Original Zombification Origin
This movie additionally presents a quite intriguing reason for the source of the contagious zombification. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease originates in a new sample of Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent a little more time explaining how Wani Waras went from a reputable purveyor of natural treatments to producing a deadly potion which seems to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the effect this condition produces on humans is utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's undead prove quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, always smiling. This is a bold decision, yet it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI also appear quite convincing, and they're almost certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
More impressive than the gross-out moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see some examples of questionable choices (like any typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or hit it over the head with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of freezing like a deer in headlights while danger nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals start turning to the undead, which was a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly pardon you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang admits he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves family tensions. This causes the moments where these individuals express gratitude for each other feel much more sincere.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound message about family or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly delivering frights. Yet these are effective scares, and because the film gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable
