Typically, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved gripping, this category seems largely exhausted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert my expectations and proved remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth
Among the film's strongest assets lies in the superb pacing. It kicks off using a memorable opening sequence in which a peaceful family party gets suddenly disrupted by a vehicle crashes into the seating section. From the wreckage, an extremely undead-looking individual emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This intense scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, allowing us to see this household before the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough opportunity to get to know the primary characters before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—an obviously awkward situation. Naturally, this has understandably caused a falling out among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming alongside his nephew, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have recently been unfaithful to Nes. The family head consists of her dad, the owner of a popular natural medicine company named Wani Waras, and who seems focused on only two aspects: his business and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely tense.
Engaged in the Drama
I became so invested in the household's issues along with their personal conflicts that I almost overlooked I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of the film depicting us who each relative represents, plus the ways they contribute to the general turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed the audience to relate to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon feat in a genre that often presents characters just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a real surprise when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The initial sequences of the party and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the film Parasite, a tale that masquerades like a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before taking an abrupt shift into shocking ground. These early moments aren't centered too heavily on humor as Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough time to immerse in its world before everything gets upended.
Unique Zombification Origin
This movie also offers a fairly interesting explanation for the source of the contagious transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease stems from a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie devoted additional time on how Wani Waras went from a trusted purveyor of natural treatments to creating a lethal potion that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the effect this affliction has on humans is absolutely disgusting, and I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This represents a bold decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and computer graphics also appear quite realistic, and are practically guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of questionable choices (as in any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like a deer caught in lights as death nears.
Realistic Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming into zombies, which was a pleasantly realistic deviation from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally clear she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal of their marriage vows. When the family becomes split up, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration on her brother which has obviously been building for years. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—feel realistic and understandable since the movie avoids attempting to promote the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures family tensions. This makes the moments when these characters express appreciation for each other feel much more genuine.
Predictable Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly offering up some profound message about family or society, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are effective scares, and since the movie gives each character enough room to develop and avoids penalizing them for having flaws, the outcome is an engaging and entertaining
