For the most part, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels mostly depleted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in defy what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Character Growth
One of the film's strongest assets is its superb pacing. It begins with a striking opening sequence in which a peaceful family party is violently disrupted when a van crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual stumbles out and begins attacking the attendees. This intense scene is then followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see this household before the tragedy struck.
Unlike many zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient opportunity to get to know the primary characters before the carnage ensues. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a ex best friend, Karina, has become wed to her dad—a clearly awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably caused a falling out among the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as good-natured but a bit inept socially, and who loves gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, appears to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family patriarch is Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two aspects: his business and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly tense.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this household's issues and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost overlooked this was a horror film—something that could sound like a drawback, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of its runtime depicting us the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they add to the general turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities allowed me to relate with the characters sufficiently to care about their outcome—an uncommon accomplishment for this style that often presents individuals only to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of zombies to devour, thus it's a genuine surprise when things eventually deteriorate.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple household exchanges in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy before making a sudden turn toward shocking ground. These introductory scenes don't focus as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Infection Source
This movie also offers a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition stems from a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about its origins, I wish the film devoted additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a reputable purveyor of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious pathogen. Regardless of the lack of background, the effect this affliction produces on people proves utterly disgusting, which I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a bold decision, yet it works. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and are practically certain to provoke a fear of holes.
Capable Personalities
Even better than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some examples of dubious choices (like any any good zombie movie), however for the most part, Nes and her relatives are resourceful and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike an undead in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or hit it over the head with the nearest blunt instrument they find rather than standing still like a deer in headlights while danger approaches.
Realistic Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus of familial discord when people begin transforming to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they decide over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying instantly cures family tensions. This causes the moments when these characters do show gratitude toward one another seem far more genuine.
Predictable Ending
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up some profound insight about family or community, as well. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are successful scares, and because the movie allows every personality enough room to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is a captivating and entertaining
