Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. While favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early episodes from The Walking Dead were enjoyable, the genre feels largely exhausted nowadays. Even the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust on my to-watch queue for some time. But, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy my expectations turning out quite enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Growth
Among the film's greatest assets lies in the superb pacing. It begins with a memorable initial scene where a peaceful family party is violently disrupted when a vehicle plows right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual emerges proceeding assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is immediately followed by a flashback, giving viewers to see the family before the tragedy struck.
In contrast to numerous zombie films, The Elixir truly allows the audience enough time to become acquainted with the primary characters before the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose former best friend, Karina, has become married to her dad—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has understandably led to a rift between Nes and Karina. Then there's Nes' brother, Bang, who is good-natured but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have recently cheated on her. This household patriarch is her dad, who runs a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two aspects: his business and his wife to Nes' ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves incredibly strained.
Engaged in the Conflict
I became so invested with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I almost forgot this was a scary movie—which might sound like a drawback, yet ultimately worked well. The Elixir dedicates a considerable portion of the film depicting us who each relative represents, and how they add to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities enabled me to relate with the characters enough to be concerned for their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often presents characters just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its cast as flat, disposable victims for an army of the undead to consume, so it's a real shock when things finally go wrong.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening scenes of the party and the multiple family interactions actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a story that masquerades as a Korean drama featuring somewhat morbid humor before taking an abrupt shift into "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on humor compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides enough time to immerse in the setting prior to everything gets turned upside down.
Original Zombification Origin
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of biological weapon, the cause for this infectious condition stems from a new batch from Wani Waras natural medicines developed by her dad. Although some background is provided a bit about how it started, I wish the movie had spent a little more focus explaining how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted purveyor of holistic medicine to producing a lethal elixir that appears to contain an extremely infectious virus. Regardless of the lack of context, the impact this affliction has on humans is utterly repulsive, which I appreciate. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, maybe most disturbingly, constantly grinning. This is a bold choice, but it succeeds. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also very realistic, and are almost guaranteed to provoke one's trypophobia.
Capable Characters
Even better compared to the disgusting moments is the cast themselves. Certainly, there are some instances of questionable choices (like any any good undead film), but for the most part, Nes and her family show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it on the skull with whatever blunt instrument is available rather than freezing like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.
Believable Family Strike
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict when people begin transforming to the undead, this proved a pleasantly realistic subversion from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope often seen in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes loves her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they decide over the phone to meet up at a close location. But when Bang admits he is unaware how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable since the movie doesn't try to push the notion that a near-death experience instantly cures familial strife. This makes those instances when these characters do show appreciation toward one another feel far more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the ending is admittedly a bit stereotypical. The Elixir isn't really presenting any deep insight about family or society, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're successful frights, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for their imperfections, the outcome is a captivating and entertaining
