Generally speaking, I've had my fill of apocalyptic horror. Although classics like 28 Days Later and the early seasons of The Walking Dead were gripping, this category seems mostly exhausted 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, managed to subvert my expectations and proved remarkably enjoyable.
Impressive Rhythm and Personal Development
One of this movie's strongest strengths lies in the superb pacing. It begins with a memorable opening sequence where a peaceful family gathering is violently disrupted by a vehicle crashes right into the seating section. Out of the van, a very zombie-like individual emerges and begins assaulting the attendees. This intense scene is then succeeded by a flashback, allowing us to observe the family before the disaster struck.
In contrast to many zombie films, The Elixir actually allows the audience enough time to become acquainted with its main personalities before the carnage begins. There's Nes, a wife and mother with a former best friend, Karina, has become wed to Nes' father—a clearly uncomfortable situation. Naturally, this has understandably led to a rift among Nes and Karina. We also see her sibling, Bang, who is good-natured but socially awkward, and he loves gaming with Nes' young son, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, appears to have lately been unfaithful to her. This household head consists of Nes' father, who runs a well-known natural medicine business called Wani Waras, and who seems focused on only two aspects: his work and his marriage to Nes' former best friend. Needless to say, this gathering proves extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I became so invested in the household's issues and their personal conflicts that I nearly overlooked I was watching a scary movie—which might seem like a negative, but in the end worked well. The Elixir spends a significant amount of its runtime to showing viewers who each relative represents, and how they contribute to the overall turmoil. This emphasis on conflicting personalities allowed me to connect to the personalities sufficiently to care about their fate—an uncommon accomplishment in a genre that often introduces individuals just to kill them off shortly afterwards. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as two-dimensional, expendable casualties for a horde of the undead to devour, thus it's a genuine shock when things finally deteriorate.
Evocative of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and the multiple household exchanges actually bring to mind the movie Parasite, a tale which disguises itself as a K-Drama with somewhat morbid humor before taking a sudden turn into "holy shit" ground. These early scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy compared to Parasite, but The Elixir still provides sufficient time to settle into the setting prior to everything gets upended.
Original Zombification Origin
The film also offers a quite intriguing reason regarding the origin of the contagious transformation. Rather than a unintended laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the source for this infectious condition originates in a recent batch from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although we do learn something regarding how it started, it would have been better if the movie had spent a little more focus on how Wani Waras went from a reputable supplier of natural treatments to creating a deadly potion which seems to contain an extremely infectious virus. Despite the limited background, the impact this affliction has on people is absolutely disgusting, and I love it. The Elixir's undead are fast, bizarre in appearance, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This is a daring decision, but it succeeds. The Elixir's physical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and are almost guaranteed to trigger a fear of holes.
Resourceful Personalities
Even better than the disgusting scenes is the cast themselves. Of course, we see a few examples of dubious choices (as in typical undead film), however generally, Nes and her family are inventive and quick-thinking. Additionally, they don't hesitate to kick an undead in the head, stab it with a pitchfork, or beat it over the head with whatever blunt instrument is available instead of standing still like prey caught in lights as death approaches.
Realistic Family Discord
The Elixir doesn't abandon its themes of familial discord when people start turning to the undead, which was a welcome authentic deviation from that "We don't get along|"We have issues, but you almost died I immediately pardon you for everything! cliché frequently used in apocalyptic movies. It's clear, Nes cares for her relatives and values her husband, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they agree over the phone to regroup at a nearby location. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes unleashes an immense amount of frustration toward Bang which has obviously been brewing for years. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—feel authentic and relatable since the movie avoids attempting to push the notion that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This makes those instances when these characters express appreciation for each other seem much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's strong efforts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be a bit formulaic. The Elixir isn't really offering up any deep message regarding relatives or community, either. Instead, it's mostly serving up frights. Yet these are effective scares, and because the film gives each character sufficient space to develop and doesn't punish them for having flaws, the result is an engaging and enjoyable
