Generally speaking, I'm over apocalyptic horror. Although favorites such as 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead proved enjoyable, this category feels mostly exhausted nowadays. Even the highly anticipated 28 Years Later has been sitting in my watchlist for months. However, Netflix's latest Southeast Asian horror film, The Elixir, managed to defy what I anticipated turning out remarkably entertaining.
Excellent Pacing and Personal Growth
Among this movie's strongest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering gets suddenly disrupted when a van crashes right into the guest area. Out of the van, an extremely zombie-like individual stumbles out and begins assaulting the partygoers. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a look back, giving viewers to observe this household prior to the tragedy occurred.
Unlike many undead movies, The Elixir actually allows viewers sufficient time to get to know the primary personalities before the chaos ensues. There's Nes, a married mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to her dad—an obviously awkward dynamic. This has understandably led to a falling out among Nes and Karina. We also see Nes' brother, Bang, who is kind-hearted yet a bit inept socially, and who enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. The family patriarch consists of Nes' father, the owner of a well-known herbal remedy company called Wani Waras, and who appears to care about only two things: his work and his marriage to Nes' ex-best friend. Unsurprisingly, this gathering is extremely strained.
Invested in the Drama
I became so invested in the family's dynamics and their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a drawback, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a considerable portion of its runtime to showing us the identity of every family member is, and how they contribute to the overall dysfunction. This emphasis on conflicting traits allowed the audience to relate with the characters enough to be concerned for their fate—a rare accomplishment for this style which frequently introduces characters only to eliminate them shortly afterwards. The Elixir doesn't treat its characters as flat, disposable victims for a horde of the undead to consume, thus it's a real shock once events eventually deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences from the gathering and the multiple family interactions in fact bring to mind the film Parasite, a story which disguises itself like a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor prior to making a sudden turn toward shocking ground. These introductory moments don't focus as much on comedy as Parasite, yet The Elixir nonetheless gives sufficient opportunity to settle into its world before everything gets upended.
Unique Zombification Source
This movie additionally presents a fairly intriguing reason regarding the origin of the spreading transformation. Instead of an accidental laboratory incident or a type of bioweapon, the source of this infectious condition originates in a new batch of Wani Waras natural medicines created by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding its origins, I wish the film devoted additional time on how Wani Waras transitioned from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to creating a lethal elixir that appears to contain a highly contagious pathogen. Despite the lack of background, the effect this affliction produces on people is absolutely repulsive, and I appreciate. The Elixir's zombies are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, yet it works. The Elixir's practical effects and computer graphics are also quite realistic, and are almost guaranteed to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the gross-out scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, there are some instances of questionable decision-making (like any any good zombie movie), however generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves inventive and quick-thinking. They also don't hesitate to strike a zombie in the face, stab it using a farm tool, or beat it over the head with the nearest heavy object is available rather than freezing like prey caught in lights while danger nears.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus on family conflict once individuals start turning into zombies, which was a pleasantly authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died so I instantly forgive you for all your mistakes!" trope frequently used in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes cares for her family and values her husband, Rudi, but it's also clear she remains clinging to resentment over his betrayal in their relationship. Once the household becomes split up, they agree over the phone to regroup at a close spot. But when Bang reveals he doesn't know how to get there, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing over time. Nes is not perfect, and her family—flawed as it is—seem realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances where these individuals do show gratitude toward one another feel far more sincere.
Predictable Conclusion
In spite of The Elixir's strong efforts to innovate, the ending is admittedly somewhat formulaic. The Elixir doesn't truly presenting any deep insight regarding relatives or society, as well. Rather, it's mostly serving up scares. Yet these are effective scares, and because the movie gives each character sufficient space to develop and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result proves an engaging and enjoyable
