Generally speaking, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. While classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems mostly exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for months. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, managed to subvert my expectations turning out remarkably enjoyable.
Excellent Rhythm and Character Growth
One of this movie's greatest assets lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off with a striking initial scene in which a calm family party is violently interrupted when a van plows into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely undead-looking stranger emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is then followed by a look back, allowing us to observe the family prior to the tragedy struck.
Unlike numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know its main personalities prior to the chaos begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. This has predictably led to a falling out between Nes and Karina. Then there's her sibling, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. The family patriarch is her dad, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy business called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about just two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so invested with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama that I nearly forgot this was a horror film—which might seem like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime to showing viewers the identity of every family member represents, and how they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed me to connect to the personalities enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently presents individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a real surprise when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The initial sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy prior to taking an abrupt shift toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient time to settle into its world prior to it gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Origin
This movie additionally presents a quite interesting explanation regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the film had spent additional time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this affliction has on humans proves utterly repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and are practically certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive compared to the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of questionable choices (as in typical undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to kick an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with whatever heavy object they find instead of freezing like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord once individuals begin transforming into zombies, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they decide over the phone to meet up at a nearby location. But when Bang admits he doesn't know how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration on her brother that's clearly been building over time. Nes isn't flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments when these characters do show gratitude for each other seem far more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight about family or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful scares, and because the movie gives each character enough room to grow and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and enjoyable
