For the most part, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later along with the initial seasons of The Walking Dead were enjoyable, this category seems largely depleted at this point. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains sitting in my watchlist for months. But, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Character Growth
One of the film's strongest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable opening sequence in which a calm family party gets suddenly interrupted by a van plows right into the seating section. Out of the van, a very zombie-like stranger emerges proceeding assaulting the partygoers. This intense moment is then followed by a look back, allowing us to observe this household prior to the disaster struck.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir actually gives the audience enough opportunity to become acquainted with its main personalities prior to the carnage ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother with a former close friend, Karina, is now married to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. Naturally, this has understandably caused a rift among Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, described as kind-hearted but socially awkward, and who loves gaming alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Her spouse, Rudi, seems to have lately cheated on Nes. The family head is her dad, the owner of a well-known natural medicine business named Wani Waras, and he seems to care about only two aspects: his business and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so invested with this household's issues along with their interpersonal drama that I almost forgot I was watching a scary movie—which might sound like a negative, but ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable amount of the film to showing us the identity of every family member is, and how they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on clashing personalities allowed me to relate with the characters enough to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, so it's a genuine shock when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and the multiple household exchanges actually evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a Korean drama with somewhat morbid comedy prior to taking an abrupt shift into shocking ground. These early scenes aren't centered as much on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides sufficient opportunity to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a quite intriguing reason for the source of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this contagious disease originates in a new batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. While some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the movie had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a deadly elixir that appears to include an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the limited context, the effect this affliction has on people proves utterly disgusting, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead prove fast, freaky-looking, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, but it works. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite realistic, and they're practically certain to provoke one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Characters
More impressive than the gross-out scenes are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see a few instances of dubious decision-making (as in typical undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and sharp. They also aren't afraid to kick an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with the nearest blunt instrument is available instead of freezing like a deer caught in lights while danger nears.
Believable Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, this proved a welcome realistic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world films. Obviously, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to resentment regarding his infidelity of their marriage vows. Once the household becomes split up, they agree via telephone to meet up at a nearby spot. But when Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing for years. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the idea that a near-death experience immediately resolves familial strife. This makes those instances where these individuals express gratitude for each other seem far more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the ending must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep insight regarding relatives or society, either. Rather, it's primarily delivering scares. But they're successful scares, and because the movie allows every personality sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and entertaining
