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 gripping, the genre seems largely depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Impressive Pacing and Personal Growth
One of this movie's strongest strengths lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off using a memorable initial scene in which a calm family party gets suddenly disrupted by a van plows into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like stranger emerges and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately succeeded by a look back, giving viewers to see the family before the tragedy occurred.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience sufficient opportunity to become acquainted with the primary characters prior to the chaos begins. We meet Nes, a married mother with a former close friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. This has predictably caused a rift between the two women. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys playing video games alongside Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately cheated on her. This household head is her dad, who runs a well-known herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and who appears to care about just two aspects: his work and his marriage to his daughter's ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering proves extremely strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so engrossed in the family's dynamics and their interpersonal drama to the point I almost forgot I was watching a horror film—something that could seem like a negative, yet in the end paid off. The Elixir dedicates a significant amount of the film depicting us the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they contribute to the general dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment in a genre that often presents individuals just to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, disposable victims for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine shock once events finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and various household exchanges in fact evoke the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama featuring slightly dark comedy before making a sudden shift toward "holy shit" territory. These introductory moments don't focus too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, yet The Elixir still gives sufficient opportunity to settle into its world prior to it gets upended.
Original Zombification Origin
This movie also offers a fairly intriguing explanation regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Instead of a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of bioweapon, the cause for this infectious condition originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies developed by Nes' father. While we do learn a bit about its origins, it would have been better if the movie had spent additional time explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of natural treatments to producing a deadly elixir that appears to include a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of context, the effect this affliction has on people proves utterly repulsive, and I love it. The Elixir's zombies prove fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, always smiling. This is a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI also appear very realistic, and they're almost certain to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Characters
Even better than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some examples of dubious decision-making (as in typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her relatives are inventive and sharp. Additionally, they don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with the nearest heavy object they find rather than freezing like prey in headlights as death approaches.
Believable Familial Strike
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord once individuals begin transforming to the undead, which was a welcome authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché often seen in apocalyptic films. It's clear, Nes loves her family and cares about her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still clinging to bitterness regarding his infidelity in their relationship. Once the household gets separated, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware how to get there, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been building over time. Nes isn't perfect, and her relatives—flawed as it is—seem authentic and relatable because the film doesn't try to promote the idea that nearly dying instantly cures familial strife. This makes the moments where these individuals express appreciation for each other seem far more genuine.
Stereotypical Ending
In spite of The Elixir's best attempts to innovate, the conclusion is admittedly somewhat stereotypical. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting some profound message about family or society, either. Rather, it's mostly serving up frights. But they're effective scares, and since the movie allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves a captivating and enjoyable
