Generally speaking, I've grown tired of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre seems mostly depleted nowadays. Yet the highly anticipated 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out quite entertaining.
Superb Pacing and Character Development
Among this movie's greatest assets lies in the superb rhythm. It begins using a memorable opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a vehicle plows into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking stranger stumbles out and begins assaulting the attendees. This dramatic moment is immediately succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family prior to the disaster occurred.
Unlike numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience sufficient time to become acquainted with its main characters before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother whose ex close friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously uncomfortable dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably caused a falling out between the two women. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have lately been unfaithful to her. The family head is Nes' father, who runs a popular natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who seems to care about only two things: his business and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this family reunion is extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so engrossed with this family's dynamics along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost overlooked this was a horror film—something that could seem like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir spends a considerable amount of its runtime depicting viewers the identity of every relative represents, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting traits enabled me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their outcome—a rare feat for this style that often presents individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its cast as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to consume, thus it's a real surprise when things eventually go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a story that masquerades as a K-Drama with slightly dark humor before taking a sudden turn toward shocking ground. These early scenes don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting before everything gets turned upside down.
Unique Zombification Source
The film additionally presents a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the source for this contagious disease originates in a new sample of Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the movie devoted a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious pathogen. Despite the limited context, the impact this condition has on people proves utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove 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 certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Capable Characters
More impressive than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Of course, we see a few instances of questionable choices (like any any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her family show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. Additionally, they aren't afraid to strike an undead in the face, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a welcome authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly pardon you for everything! trope often seen in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes loves her family and cares about her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains holding onto resentment regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—feel authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to promote the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals express gratitude for each other feel much more genuine.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message about family or community, either. Instead, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're effective frights, and because the film allows every personality enough room to grow and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome is a captivating and enjoyable
